The August 4th primary election in Missouri is especially important to us all because the Governor decided to add the Medicaid Expansion Initiative to this ballot. (This is a citizen-initiated constitutional amendment that will permit tax dollars we already contribute to return to Missouri so we can expand sorely needed healthcare services in our State.) However, Covid-19 has created challenges for polling places and health risks for the voters across the state, so the State has elected to expand mail-in voting (with a notary) to all eligible citizens in 2020. In St. Louis County, there are a few new rules and opportunities for those who will vote in August and November of this year.
First of all, here is the application for an absentee ballot for the August 4, 2020 primary election. You can find it here:
St. Louis County Absentee Ballot Request
All voters are eligible to vote via a mail-in absentee ballot, but may require a notary UNLESS you are ill or at-risk of contracting or spreading COVID-19.
For 2020, the following absentee eligibility has been added:
(2020 only) Has contracted coronavirus or is at-risk due to any of the following: * Is age 65 or older * Lives in a long term care facility * Has chronic lung disease/asthma * Has a serious heart condition * Is immunocompromised * Has diabetes * Has chronic kidney disease and are undergoing dialysis * Has liver disease
For more information and submission instructions go to the St. Louis County Board of Elections website.
If you are eligible and have chosen to vote by mail in the August election the deadline for requesting an absentee ballot is July 22, 2020. If the rules remain the same the deadline for the November ballot request will be October 21, 2020.
Please don’t wait till the last minute if this applies to you. One way or another, your vote needs to be counted by 7 PM on August the 4th. It’s important.