Early, absentee and mail-in voting options for Nov. 3 general election

This year’s general election is unlike any other. The ongoing threat of COVID-19 has voters weighing how best to cast their ballot safely, and how to make sure their vote is counted. Missouri and Illinois are offering a variety of options.

To make certain their vote is counted, voters need to pay attention to application and return deadlines, as they vary from state to state.

MISSOURI
Voting options in Missouri include:

• In-person.
• Absentee. You may cast an absentee ballot in Missouri if you have contracted or are in an at-risk category for COVID-19; are going to be out of town on Election Day; are incapacitated or confined due to illness, physical disability or caring for a person who is incapacitated or confined due to illness or disability (no notary required); because of religious belief or practice; are employed as an election authority or by an election authority at a location other than your polling place; if you are incarcerated but have retained all the necessary qualifications for voting; due to certified participation in the address confidentiality program due to safety concerns.
• By mail (requires a notary).

DEADLINES
If you will be unable to vote in person on Election Day, you can request an absentee ballot/mail-in ballot by mail or by visiting your local election office.
The deadline to request an absentee ballot in Missouri is Oct. 21.

Ballots must be returned to your local election authority on or before Nov. 3 at 7 p.m. to be counted.

WHERE TO VOTE
Local election offices include:

• St. Louis City Board of Elections, 300 N. Tucker Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63101
• St. Louis County Board of Elections, 725 Northwest Plaza Drive, St. Ann, MO 63074
• St. Charles County Election Authority, 397 Turner Blvd., St. Peters, MO 63376.
• Franklin County Clerk’s Office, 400 E. Locust, Ste. 201, Union, MO 63084.
• Jefferson County Clerk’s Office, 729 Maple St., Rm G17, PO Box 100, Hillsboro, MO 63050.
• Washington County, County Clerk’s Office, 102 N. Missouri St., Potosi, MO 63664

OUTSTATE ELECTION OFFICES

• St. Francois County Clerk’s Office, 1101 Weber Road, Ste. 302, Farmington, MO 63640.
• Ste. Genevieve County, County Clerk’s Office, 55 S. Third St., Rm. 2, Ste. Genevieve, MO 63670.
• Cape Girardeau County Clerk’s Office, 1 Barton Square, Ste. 301, Jackson, MO 63755.
• Boone County Clerk’s Office, 801 E. Walnut St., Rm. 236, Columbia, MO 65201

Mailed requests for absentee ballots must be received by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2020 for the general election. Voters can vote by absentee in the office of their local election authority until 5 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 2, 2020.

WHERE TO VOTE
Registered voters in Missouri can look up where to vote on the Missouri Secretary of State’s website at: voteroutreach.sos.mo.gov/PRD/VoterOutreach/VOSearch.aspx, or by contacting their local election authority.

WHAT TO BRING
You will be asked to show ID to vote in Missouri. Acceptable forms of government-issued photo ID include:

• A driver’s license.
• Non-driver’s license.
• U.S. passport.
• Military ID.

If you do not have a government-issued photo ID, you can also show one of the following forms of ID:

• A voter registration card.
• ID from a Missouri university, college, vocational or technical school.
• A copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, government check or other government document that contains your name and address.

VOTERS WITHOUT ID
If you are unable to provide ID, you will be able to cast a provisional ballot. Your ballot will count if your signature matches the signature in the voter registry or if you return to your polling place and show a photo ID.

ILLINOIS
Illinois offers in-person, early voting and voting by mail/absentee.
The deadline to request an absentee ballot by mail is Oct. 29. The deadline to request an absentee ballot in person is Nov. 2.

Absentee ballots in Illinois must be postmarked by Nov. 3 and received by Nov 17 to be counted.

Monroe, St. Clair and Madison County offer the following early voting options:

MONROE COUNTY
Early voting is now offered from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays through Nov. 2, plus 9 a.m. to noon on two Saturdays, Oct. 24 and Oct. 31, at the County Clerk’s office, 100 S. Main, Waterloo.

ST. CLAIR COUNTY
Early voting has already begun in St. Clair County, which has established three “permanent” early sites:

• County Clerk Election Department, second floor of 10 Public Square, Belleville.
• The Rec Complex, 9950 Bunkum Road, Fairview Heights.
• O’Fallon Township office, 801 E. State St., O’Fallon.

Times for those locations are 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays from Oct. 19 to Nov. 2. Voters can go to any of them.

In addition, residents may vote at the county clerk’s office from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, through Nov. 2.

Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 3. Polling places can be found at the same website (www.co.st-clair.il.us), on the Elections page under Voters Guide or Polling Place Listings.

MADISON COUNTY
Early voting is now available at the County Clerk’s office in the County Administration Building, 157 N. Main St., Edwardsville, from 8:30 to 4:40 p.m. weekdays, through Oct. 16.

Other locations throughout the county begin operating on Monday, Oct. 19.
Hours for the following three locations are 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., weekdays, Oct. 19 through Nov. 1, plus 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays Oct. 24 and 31 and Sundays Oct. 25 and Nov. 1. They include:

• County Administration Building, first floor, 157 N. Main St., Edwardsville.
• Scot Bibb Center (former St. Patrick’s School) multi-purpose room, 1004 E. 5th St., Alton.
• Granite City Township Building, 2060 Delmar Ave., Granite City.

The following locations have varying hours and dates:

• Bethalto Village Hall community room, 213 Prairie St., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays Oct. 19-30.
• Collinsville Senior Center, 420 E. Main, 12-6 p.m. weekdays Oct. 19-30, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays, Oct. 24 and Oct. 31.
• Godfrey Village Hall, 6810 Godfrey Road, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, Oct. 19-30.
• Weinheimer Community Center, 1100 Main St., Highland, 12-6 p.m. weekdays, Oct. 19-30, plus 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays, Oct. 24 and 31.
• Madison Fire Station, 1800 3rd St., 12-6 p.m. weekdays, Oct. 19-30, plus 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays Oct. 24 and 31.
• Morris University Center Willow Room, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, Oct. 28-30.
• Troy City Hall, 116 E. Market St., 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays, Oct. 19-30.
• Wood River Township, 41 S. 9th St., 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays, Oct. 19-30.