Voting Changes

Tuesday, November 8 is voting day. The County Clerk’s office is in charge of administrative duties for the whole county, which includes voter registration, and running the elections. Stanley Whitehurst, Webster County Clerk, talked to the Marshfield Mail about the big day. “We’re expecting a heavy turnout,” he anticipates.

Although there are no polling location changes in Webster County, there are some differences you may want to know, before heading out to vote.

At the end of June, right when the legislative session was about to end, House Bill 1878 was signed. It was Missouri’s answer to the election madness of 2020. This bill put into effect, among other voting modifications, the requirement that voters now have to show a photo ID.

The Secretary of State Website on Voter ID lists these as acceptable forms of ID:

A nonexpired Missouri driver or non-driver license;

A nonexpired military ID, including a veteran’s ID card;

A nonexpired United States passport; or

Another photo ID issued by the United States or the state of Missouri which is either not expired or expired after the date of the most recent general election.

Don’t already have an ID and wish to vote? Obtain a free one by going to a Department of Revenue, or the Department of Health and Senior Services, Bureau of Vital Records. The Missouri Secretary of State will also help you get the official documents you need to obtain your voter ID at https://s1.sos.mo.gov/voteridhelp.

If you don’t bring an ID, you can request a blue provisional ballot. It will only count, however, if you come back later that day with a valid ID, or if your signature matches the one on your voter registration.

Another variation passed in the bill is the no-excuse-in-person absentee voting. Anyone can absentee vote during the two weeks before election day, without having a reason for it. Which means? You can head in to the courthouse right now! So, if you are not looking forward to finding a parking spot at Holy Trinity, for example, or if you just want to get your civic duty done early, or for any other cause, just stop by the courthouse, on Crittenden Street.

Wish to absentee vote by mail? Today, October 26, by 5 pm, is your last chance to request an absentee ballot by mail. To absentee vote by mail, you do need to have a reason. Qualified reasons include a disability, or being a caretaker of a person with a disability, being out of town, religious reasons, incarceration, employment at a polling location other than your own, or as a first responder, healthcare worker, or law enforcement, which would bar you from voting on November 8, or if you are in an address confidentiality program.

This is just a recap of a few parts of the bill that will affect us. There are more changes involved, and if you wish to know more visit https://www.sos.mo.gov/voterid.

If you are not registered to vote yet, sadly, it is too late to register in order to participate this time. However, if you head over to the state website at https://s1.sos.mo.gov/elections/voterregistration/, you can register so you are ready for the next one.

About election day, Whitehurst adds, “I think turnout will be heavy, and we’re certainly staffing up for a busy day. We encourage people to research the issues before they come to the polls.”