There are just six weeks left until the 2024 general election, where voters will weigh in on state and national topics from ballot initiatives to the next president of the United States.

Election season can be overwhelming, from campaign emails and texts flooding your devices to a deluge of reminders to register to vote popping up online and in person. It’s tempting to ignore the torrent of information altogether — but making your voice heard in our democracy is worth it.

Here’s a no-nonsense guide for Missouri residents on when, where and how to vote in November’s election.

What deadlines do I need to know in order to vote in Missouri?

Excused absentee voting begins: Tuesday, Sept. 24

Last day to register to vote:Wednesday, Oct. 9

Deadline to request an absentee ballot:Wednesday, Oct. 23, at 5 p.m.

In-person early voting begins:Tuesday, Oct. 22

Absentee ballots due: Tuesday, Nov. 5, at 7 p.m.

Election Day: Tuesday, Nov. 5

Will I receive my ballot in the mail in Missouri?

A handful of states mail ballots to every registered voter, but Missouri isn’t one of them. That means if you want an absentee ballot, you will have to request one. The deadline to do so is Wednesday, Oct. 23, at 5 p.m.

In Missouri, you must meet certain criteria in order to request a mailed absentee ballot. They include:

•Being out of town on Election Day

•Illness or disability, including caring for someone with an illness or disability

•Religious reasons

•Employment as a poll worker, health care worker, first responder or law enforcement

•Incarceration

•Participation in an address confidentiality program

To request an absentee ballot, fill out the one-page application on the Missouri secretary of state’s website and mail it in to your local election office along with a copy of your Missouri or federal government issued photo ID.

Kansas City residents living within Jackson County should return their applications to the Kansas City Election Board’s office. All other Jackson County residents should return it to the Jackson County Election Board. Clay and Platte county residents should return their applications to their county’s election board, regardless of whether they live within Kansas City limits.

If you find it difficult to leave your home or go to the polls due to a disability or old age, you might qualify for your election board’s permanent absentee voting program. Participants in this program will receive absentee ballot applications in the mail automatically — but must fill out and return them in every election in order to get the ballots themselves.

Mailed absentee ballots are sent out starting Tuesday, Sept. 24.

Once you receive your absentee ballot, you must fill it out and have it notarized before you return it to your local election authority. Under Missouri law, notaries cannot charge a fee for notarizing a ballot. Disabled, sick and temporarily incapacitated voters — including their caregivers — are exempt from the notary requirement.

In Missouri, absentee ballots must be physically returned — not postmarked — by the time polls close on Election Day. Election officials recommend completing and mailing in your ballot as soon as possible to ensure it arrives before this state-mandated deadline.

If you’ve waited until too late to mail your vote in, you can bring the sealed ballot envelope in person to your county’s election office during its open hours, including on Election Day. If you can’t leave the house, a close relative like a parent, child or sibling can bring it in for you.

What is in-person absentee voting?

There are two types of in-person absentee voting in Missouri. Here’s the difference between them.

Excused in-person absentee voting

•Begins six weeks before Election Day on Tuesday, Sept. 24

•Voters must meet one of the excused reasons listed above

•Only available at your election board’s main office

No-excuse in-person absentee voting

•Begins two weeks before Election Day on Tuesday, Oct. 22

•Voters do not have to provide an excuse for voting early

•Available at select polling places around your county

•Also called early voting

Because both types of in-person absentee voting take place at official polling locations rather than through the mail, there is no notarization required. If you know you will be out of town or not available on Election Day, this option may be easier than going through the mailed absentee voting process.

Am I registered to vote?

The deadline to register to vote in November’s election is Wednesday, Oct. 9.

You can check on your voter registration through the voter registration lookup portal on the Missouri Secretary of State’s website. You’ll be asked to enter your first and last name exactly as they appear on your registration, as well as your date of birth, your county and the last four digits of your Social Security number.

The portal should also allow you to check your polling place, see a sample ballot and access other election resources. However, this information is not yet available for Kansas City Election Board voters as of Tuesday, Sept. 24.

_____

©2024 The Kansas City Star. Visit at kansascity.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.