Absentee Voting

Absentee Voting Eligibility Information

You may vote an absentee ballot by mail or in person at the St. Charles County Election Authority starting six weeks before election day if one of the following applies. Please note that a notary is not required when voting in person at the St. Charles County Election Authority. View the Absentee Ballot Application (PDF).

Absentee voters must provide one of the following reasons for voting absentee:

  1. Absence on Election Day from the jurisdiction of the election authority in which such voter is registered to vote;
  2. Incapacity or confinement due to illness or physical disability on election day, including a person who is primarily responsible for the physical care of a person who is incapacitated or confined due to illness or disability and resides at the same address; 
  3. Religious belief or practice;
  4. Employment as an election authority or by an election authority at a location other than such voter’s polling place, a first responder, a health care worker, or a member of law enforcement;
  5. Incarceration, provided all qualifications for voting are retained.
  6. Certified participation in the address confidentiality program established under sections 589.660 to 589.681 because of safety concerns.

Mail in, faxed  or emailed absentee ballot requests must be received by the election authority no later than 5:00 p.m. on the second Wednesday prior to any election. Voters can email their request to electionabsentee@sccmo.org. Voters can vote by absentee in the office of the local election authority until 5:00 p.m. the night before the election.

Voters requesting an absentee ballot by mail who have registered by mail and have not voted in person are required to submit a copy of their personal identification unless they provided a copy with their registration application. Examples of acceptable identification are:

  • 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.

This identification requirement, as well as the notary requirement for absentee ballots, does not apply to overseas voters, those on active military duty or members of their immediate family living with them or voters who are permanently disabled and their caregivers.

Methods of Absentee Voting 

  1. In person: Absentee voting is available in-person at the Election Authority beginning on the Tuesday six weeks prior to an election and ends on the Monday prior to the election. A notary is not required to vote in person at the Election Authority.  From six weeks until two weeks before an election voters must provide one of the 6 reasons for absentee voting.  Photo ID is required to receive a ballot while voting in person.
  2. In person no excuse absentee voting: Beginning two (2) weeks before an election and ending the day before an election voters may vote at the Election Authority office in person without stating any of the above 6 absentee reasons. Photo ID is required to receive a ballot while voting in person.
  3. By mail with a notary: Voters may vote absentee by mail with a notarized ballot for religious beliefs or practice, working as an election worker, incarceration (if still eligible to vote), certified participation in an address confidentiality program, or absence on Election Day from election jurisdiction. Applications to receive an absentee ballot by mail are due to the Election Authority by 5 p.m., the second Wednesday prior to the election. Absentee Ballot Application (PDF).
    1. If a voter who requested an absentee by mail ballot chooses to vote in person on Election Day, the voter may bring their ballot and envelope to their polling place on Election Day to be voided by an election judge. The voter may then cast their ballot in person. Absentee by mail voters may deliver their ballot and envelope to the Election Authority or their polling place on Election Day to have their ballot counted at the Election Authority office. A voter cannot cast more than one ballot. If a voter has an absentee by mail ballot and does not surrender it to an election judge to be voided prior to attempting to vote in person at their polling place on Election Day, the system will indicate the voter already has an existing ballot.
    2. Notary Information:
      1. Notaries notarize the signature of the voter. Do not sign your ballot until you are with the notary. If a voter signs the ballot before it is notarized, the Election Authority will accept a ballot with two signatures from the voter if the notary requires it.
      2. Notaries do not need to be from St. Charles County or the state of Missouri. The Election Authority recognizes notaries from all 50 states.
      3. Notaries in other states have different rules for how they display their seal. Ballots will not be rejected if a notary follows their state laws.
      4. Ballots that require a notary that are not notarized will be rejected. Please make certain you have a notary if you requested a by mail only ballot.

By mail without a notary: Voters are eligible to vote absentee by mail without a notary if they are incapacitated or confined because of illness. Applications to receive an absentee ballot by mail are due to the Election Authority by 5 p.m. the second Wednesday before the election. View the Absentee Ballot Application (PDF).

  1. If a voter who requested an absentee by mail ballot chooses to vote in person on Election Day, the voter may bring their ballot and envelope to their polling place on Election Day to be voided by an election judge. The voter may then cast their ballot in person. Absentee by mail voters may deliver their ballot and envelope to the Election Authority or their polling place on Election Day to have their ballot counted at the Election Authority election night. A voter cannot cast more than one ballot. If a voter has an absentee by mail ballot and does not surrender it to an election judge to be voided prior to attempting to vote in person at their polling place on Election Day, the system will indicate the voter already has an existing ballot.
  2. Instead of an application, voters may submit a written request for an absentee ballot with the following information: Full name; residence address; address where the ballot should be mailed (if different from residence); reason for voting absentee; the date of the election; and signature.

Absentee Ballot for a Family Member

A family member within the second degree may apply at the Election Authority’s office in person for the ballot to be mailed to the family member.

Individuals with a Disability

Individuals with a disability have several options for voting:

  1. Curbside voting assistance is available at our polling locations on election day. Voters needing curbside assistance may vote at the Election Authority office on Election Day.
  2. Vote on an Accessible Voting System at your polling location or at the St. Charles County Election Authority Office.  Every polling place has an accessible voting system called an FVT for individuals with disabilities including audiovisual accessibility. Accessible systems include an audio ballot to make your selections or the ability to enlarge text so that you can read the on-screen ballot with ease.
  3. Complete the Permanent Disabled Absentee Program application to request to have your name placed on a permanently disabled voter’s list. After being placed on this list, you will automatically receive a permanently disabled absentee ballot application before every election that you are eligible to vote in. You must complete this application and return it to our office, and then you will be sent an absentee ballot. Then you must vote the ballot, place it inside the return envelope, complete the envelope by signing your name and then mail it back to us. You are exempt from needing your signature notarized.
  4. You will continue to receive an absentee ballot application before each subsequent election until you request to have your name removed from this list. Remember, you must complete the application and return it to us each time to receive your ballot.
  5. If you are a caregiver of a permanently disabled voter and reside at the same address, you may download, complete and return an Absentee Ballot Application (PDF). You must reapply for a new ballot before each election. Caregivers are exempt from needing their signature notarized.

Military & Overseas Civilian

You may request an absentee ballot from the commanding officer or by contacting the Election Authority. To vote on all ballot issues, you must be a registered voter or provide proof of identification. You may download, complete, and return the Federal Post Card Application Form (PDF). This form may also be used for an overseas civilian of the U.S. who claims an address within St. Charles County, Missouri.

Please also visit the Secretary of State of Missouri’s website to learn more about military and overseas voting.

Eligible overseas voters may email absentee ballots to st.charles.county@sos.mo.gov. 

Affidavit Envelope

The affidavit envelope (absentee ballot return envelope) does not have to be notarized for anyone requesting an absentee ballot because of sickness or disability, including a person who is primarily responsible for the physical care of a person who is incapacitated or confined due to illness or disability, or a resident of the State of Missouri or immediate family living with them who resides outside the boundaries of the United States or who is in active duty with the armed forces of the United States. For all other voters a notary is required on their affidavit envelope.

Hospitalization

If you are hospitalized, within our county, after 5 p.m. on the second Wednesday prior to an election up to the day before the election, you may call the Election Authority’s office to request an absentee ballot. A bipartisan team of election judges will be sent to your hospital room to allow you to vote. This applies to voters who will not be released before or on election day.

Specific Ballot Rules

Absentee ballots may be returned by mail, registered carrier, or in person by the voter or a family member within the second degree to the Election Authority by 7 p.m. on Election Day. Absentee ballots may also be dropped off at the voter’s polling location by 7 p.m. on Election Day. There is not a drop box at the Election Authority to drop off absentee ballots after hours or on weekends. See the "Absentee Voting Eligibility Information" section on this page for requirements. To download the absentee ballot application, click on Absentee Ballot Application (PDF).

For additional information on absentee voting, please contact the Election Authority.