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St. Louis Voter Guide

Absentee and early in-person voting

Absentee voting lets you vote before Election Day.[4] You can vote absentee in person, or get a ballot by mail if you have a reason the law allows.[1]

Vote early in person, no reason needed

From Tuesday, October 20 through Monday, November 2, 2026, any registered voter can vote absentee in person.[1][3] You do not need a reason.[1][3]

  • You must show a photo ID.[1] See What ID to bring.
  • If you do not have one, state law lets you vote a provisional ballot.[6][2] But the City Board says no provisional ballots are available at its no excuse absentee sites, so City voters must bring a photo ID.[13][15]
  • The last chance is Monday, November 2.[2][18] The County's sites and the City Board's office close at 5 p.m. that day.[3][17] The City's library sites and St. Joan of Arc close at 4 p.m.[14]

Where and when to vote early

St. Louis County

Satellite sites are open:[3]

  • Weekdays, Tuesday, October 20 through Friday, October 30, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.[3]
  • Saturday, October 24 and Saturday, October 31, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.[3]
  • Monday, November 2, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.[3]

The Board of Elections office, at 725 Northwest Plaza Drive, has the same hours.[3] It also opened earlier, on Tuesday, September 22.[3] Before October 20, you need one of the reasons below to vote there.[1]

To find the sites closest to you, look up your address on the home page or use the county's Absentee Voting Lookup.[3]

City of St. Louis

City voters can vote early at the City Board's office, 300 N. Tucker Blvd., or at six public libraries and St. Joan of Arc, 5821 Pernod Ave.[14] You do not need to apply for a ballot.[13]

  • The City Board's office is open weekdays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Saturday, October 31, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.[14]
  • The libraries' hours differ by site. On Monday, November 2, they are open 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.[14] The City Board asks you to call a library to confirm its hours.[14]
  • St. Joan of Arc is open only from Tuesday, October 27 through Monday, November 2.[14]

The City Board's office also opened six weeks before the election for voters with one of the reasons below.[17][15] See every site and its hours on the City Board's Voting Locations page, or look up your address on the home page.[14]

Reasons the law allows

To get a ballot by mail, or to vote absentee in person before October 20, you need one of these reasons:[1][2]

  • You will be away on Election Day from St. Louis County, or from the City of St. Louis if you vote there.[1][15]
  • You are sick or have a physical disability. This includes being the main person who gives physical care to someone at your address who is sick or disabled.[1]
  • Your religious beliefs or practices.[1]
  • You work for an election office somewhere other than your polling place. Or you are a first responder, health care worker or law enforcement officer.[1]
  • You are in jail but still qualified to vote.[1]
  • You are in the state's address confidentiality program for safety reasons.[1]

Ask for a ballot by mail

  1. Fill out the absentee ballot request form.[7]
  2. Send it to your election board, not to the Secretary of State.[2] You can send it by mail, fax or email, or bring it in person.[2][5]
  3. Your election board must get a mailed, faxed or emailed request by 5 p.m. on the second Wednesday before the election.[5][2] For November 3, 2026, that deadline was 5 p.m. on Wednesday, October 21.[5]

City voters send the request to the Board of Election Commissioners, 300 N. Tucker Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63101.[16] Fax it to 314-622-3378 or 314-622-3319, or email it to stlcityabsentee@stlouis-mo.gov.[16] The City Board cannot accept an electronic signature.[16]

If you missed that deadline, you can still vote absentee in person until 5 p.m. on Monday, November 2.[5][2]

A close relative could also ask for you in person at your election board, by the same October 21 deadline.[5] In the City, the relative signs a form at the City Board's office saying how they are related to you.[16] A close relative means a spouse, parent, child, brother, sister, grandparent or grandchild, or one of these by marriage.[2][4]

If you registered by mail and have not voted in person before, send a copy of a photo ID with your request, unless you sent one when you registered.[2] This does not apply to military and overseas voters, or to voters with a permanent disability and their caregivers.[2]

Fill out your ballot

  • Mark your ballot in secret, seal it in the ballot envelope and fill out the statement on the envelope.[9]
  • Most voters who mail their ballot must have the envelope notarized.[1]
  • You do not need a notary if your reason is sickness or a physical disability, or if you are in jail.[1] Voters on the permanent disability list and military and overseas voters also do not need one.[8] The City Board's page lists being in jail among the reasons that need a notary, so City voters in jail should ask the City Board first.[15]
  • A notary may not charge you a fee for this.[8]

Return your ballot

  • Mail it in the return envelope. You do not need a stamp.[10]
  • Or bring it in person, or have a close relative bring it.[9]
  • Drop boxes are not allowed in Missouri.[9]
  • Your election board must receive your ballot by 7 p.m. on Election Day, November 3. Ballots that arrive later are not counted, except some military and overseas ballots.[11][4]
  • City voters mail it to, or bring it to, the Board of Election Commissioners, 300 N. Tucker Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63101.[17] A relative who brings it must do so in person at the City Board's office.[17]

If your plans change

If you got an absentee ballot but now want to vote at the polls, call your election board for steps first.[12] In St. Louis County, call 314-615-1800.[3] In the City, call the City Board's absentee office at 314-622-3230 or 314-622-3319.[17]

Sources

  1. Missouri Revised Statutes, Section 115.277 (who may vote absentee)
  2. Missouri Secretary of State, How to Vote (Absentee Voting)
  3. St. Louis County Board of Elections, Absentee Voting Lookup (November 3, 2026)
  4. Missouri Secretary of State, Voting Rights questions
  5. Missouri Revised Statutes, Section 115.279 (applying for an absentee ballot)
  6. Missouri Revised Statutes, Section 115.427 (photo ID)
  7. Missouri Secretary of State, Request for Missouri Absentee Ballot (PDF)
  8. Missouri Revised Statutes, Section 115.283 (absentee ballot statements and notaries)
  9. Missouri Revised Statutes, Section 115.291 (returning absentee ballots)
  10. Missouri Revised Statutes, Section 115.285 (return postage)
  11. Missouri Revised Statutes, Section 115.293 (when absentee ballots must arrive)
  12. Missouri Secretary of State, Other Voting Questions
  13. St. Louis City Board of Election Commissioners, Vote No Excuse Absentee
  14. St. Louis City Board of Election Commissioners, Voting Locations (Polling Places)
  15. St. Louis City Board of Election Commissioners, Absentee Voting Requirements
  16. St. Louis City Board of Election Commissioners, Apply to Vote Absentee
  17. St. Louis City Board of Election Commissioners, Vote By Absentee Ballot
  18. St. Louis City Board of Election Commissioners

Last checked against these sources on October 21, 2026.