Residents' Right to Vote

Right to Vote graphic

Residents of long-term care homes maintain their right to vote. Below are some resources for residents, families and staff to ensure this right is upheld.

VOTING – What Residents Need to Know

Qualifications to vote

In order to register to vote, an individual must be a:

  • U.S. citizen.
  • Missouri resident; and
  • 17 years and 6 months of age (must be 18 by Election Day)

Furthermore, to be entitled to vote, a person:

  • Must be registered to vote in the county of the person’s home / facility prior to the election;
  • Cannot be on probation or parole after conviction of a felony;
  • Cannot have been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor connected to voting; and
  • Cannot have been declared incapacitated

How do I register to vote?

There are several different ways you can register to vote.

Voter registration applications are also available at a Department of Motor Vehicles office or at any state agency providing service to the public.

*Your Voter Registration Form must be POSTMARKED by the 4th Wednesday before the election.*

*You can register to vote without a valid ID, however a valid ID is required at the time of voting.*

Obtaining required identification for voting

Voters are now required to have a valid government issued photo ID to vote.
Examples include Missouri driver license, Missouri non-driver license, U.S. Passport, or military ID.

If you do not have a non-expired ID here is what you need to know to obtain one for votingpurposes:

  • Go to your local Missouri Department of Revenue license office or call (573) 526-8683 and
  • Request a non-expired photo ID for voting purpose;
  • Provide documents verifying:
    • Full legal name, date of birth, place of birth
    • For Missouri birth certificates, marriage certificates, and divorce decrees, call
    • emailVitalRecordsInfo@health.mo.gov
    • Social Security Number (SSN)
      - Those who are simply renewing their ID, verbally providing their SSN is sufficient.
      - Those who are applying for an ID for the first time must provide a document that shows their SSN such as a letter from social security, a W2 or social security card.
      - Those who are switching from a driver’s license to a non-driver’s license will need to provide a document as noted above with their social security number.
    • Proof of Missouri residence and mailing address if different; and
  • Sign a statement averring, under penalty or perjury, that you do not currently possess one of the other eligible documents for voting purposes.

NOTE - If you want to apply for a non-driver’s license for voting purposes and you do not have the required verification documents, the Missouri Secretary of State’s office will help you obtain the documents you need at no cost to you. Just call the ShowIt2Vote Hotline toll-free at (866) 868-3245 or email ShowIt2Vote@sos.mo.gov

Registered to Vote, but no ID

If you are registered to vote but do not have a valid photo ID you may vote a provisional ballot at your polling place.

There are two ways your vote counts:

  • If you come back to your polling place on Election Day and show a valid photo ID your vote counts.
  • If your signature matches the signature in the voter registry, your vote counts.

Accessible Voting

Curbside Voting: Voters with limited mobility can vote “curbside” or outside the polling place. Just go to your polling place and ask someone to go in and ask poll workers to bring a ballot out to you. They should bring you a ballot within a reasonable period of time.

Accessible Polling Places: If you have physical disabilities, and your polling place is not accessible, you may request a different polling place assignment so that you may vote in a more accessible polling place. You may also vote a central location. Simply contact your local election authority to make this request. You can find your local election authority here https://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/govotemissouri/localelectionauthority or by calling (800) 669-8683.

Accessible Voting Systems: Every polling place must have an accessible voting system 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 onscreen ballot with ease.

Permanent Absentee Voting: If you have a permanent physical disability, you may request to be placed on a designated list so that your local election authority can automatically mail an absentee ballot application directly to you prior to each election. You will need to make this request directly to your local election authority who will send you further information. Residents do not need to provide a reason or medical documentation for their disability. Residents will sign attesting that they are homebound/in a long-term care facility.

Absentee Voting

During the two weeks prior to the election, you may vote no-excuse absentee ballot in person at a location designated by your local election authority. When voting an absentee ballot in person, you must show a valid ID. In person absentee voters are not eligible for a provisional ballot.

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. Employment as an election authority or by an election authority at a location at a location other than such voter’s polling place, a first responder, a health care worker, or a member of law enforcement.
  4. Incarceration, provided all qualifications for voting are retained.
  5. Certified participation in the address confidentiality program established under section 589.660 to 589.681 because of safety concerns.
  • Voters can request absentee ballots from their local election authority in person, by mail, by fax or by email.
  • Relatives within the second degree (spouse, parents and children) may complete an absentee ballot application, in person, on behalf of the voter who wishes to vote absentee.
  • Do NOT send absentee ballot applications to the Secretary of State’s office. Absentee ballots applications must be sent to the appropriate local election authority by the deadline in order to be valid.

Contact information for local election authorities may be found at:
https://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/govotemissouri/localelectionauthority

Mail-in or faxed absentee ballot requests must be received by the election authority no later than the 5:00 pm on the second Wednesday before any election. 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 valid ID unless they provided a copy with their registration application.

The ID requirement, as well as the notary requirement for absentee ballots, does not apply to those who are approved for the Permanent Absentee Voting, as noted above under the Accessible Voting section.

Guardianship and Voting

1. CHECK YOUR GUARDIANSHIP ORDER.
Guardianships appointed after 2018 could include several rights such as voting. Does the guardianship order say if you have the right to vote while under guardianship? If you do not have a copy of your guardianship order, you can look up your case on https://www.courts.mo.gov/
Contact the probate clerk at the probate division where your guardianship was filed if you would like to view your file and request a copy. You can find contact information on your local probate court's webpage.

2. TELL YOUR GUARDIAN THAT YOU WANT THE RIGHT TO VOTE.
Tell them in person, write them a letter, call them on the phone, or ask someone you trust to tell them for you. Prepare to explain why this right is important to you.

3. TELL THE JUDGE YOU WANT THE RIGHT TO VOTE.
Write the probate judge that is listed in your guardianship order and tell them you want to vote. Send the letter directly to them at the probate court. You can also email either the probate judge or the probate court generally; check their website for contact information. Explain the reasons you want to vote. If writing letters and/or emails is not comfortable for you, have someone you trust help you.

4. TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR(S) AND CARE PROVIDERS, AND ASK THEM TO WRITE A LETTER.
Anyone can send the probate judge a letter about your right to vote! Ask them to send the probate
judge a letter saying your right to vote should be reinstated.

5. YOU CAN HAVE AN ATTORNEY HELP GET YOUR RIGHTS REINSTATED.
Find an attorney that specializes in guardianship cases. You can also contact MO Protection and
Advocacy, a federally funded legal organization that works to protect the rights of individuals with
disabilities by providing advocacy and legal services. They can be reached at (800) 392-8667 (Toll Free).

RSMo 475.361. RIGHTS OF THE WARD
In every guardianship, the ward has the right to: a guardian who acts in the best interests of the ward and is reasonably accessible to the ward; communicate freely and privately with family, friends, and other persons other than the guardian unless such right is limited by the guardian for good cause, but only as necessary to ensure the ward's condition, safety, habilitation, or sound therapeutic treatment; individually or through the ward's representative or legal counsel, bring an action relating to the guardianship, including the right to file a petition alleging that the ward is being unjustly denied a right or privilege granted by this chapter, including the right to bring an action to modify or terminate the guardianship under the provisions of section 475.083; the least restrictive form of guardianship assistance; to be restored to capacity at the earliest possible time; receive information from the court that describes the ward's rights, including rights the ward may seek by petitioning the court; and participate in any health care decision-making process.