Vote Absentee by Mail

Vote Absentee by Mail

Starting six weeks before an election, registered Laclede County voters who cannot go to their polling place on Election Day may choose to vote absentee by mail. You must provide one of the following reasons for voting absentee by mail:

  • Absence on Election Day from the jurisdiction of the election authority in which such voter is registered to vote.
  • Incapacity or confinement due to illness or physical disability, 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.
  • Religious belief or practice.
  • Employment as an election authority, as a member of an election authority, or by an election authority at a location other than such voter’s polling place. Newly added occupations; first responders, health care workers, and law enforcement.
  • Incarceration, provided all qualifications for voting are retained.
  • Certified participation in the address confidentiality program established under sections 589.660 to 589.681 because of safety concerns.
  • If you are a United States citizen living overseas or if you are in the Military, there are special provisions for you to register, receive, and return your ballot. Learn more about the military and overseas voting process in Laclede County.

Important: Do not send absentee ballot applications to the Missouri Secretary of State’s Office.

Starting six weeks before an election, there are two ways to request an absentee ballot in Laclede County:

  1. In-person: Visit the Laclede County Clerk’s office at 200 N. Adams Ave to complete an application to vote absentee.
    ***The deadline to request to vote absentee in-person is 5:00 pm the Monday before the election.
  2. Mail or Fax: Download the Laclede application to vote absentee (PDF), complete the application, and return it to the Laclede County Clerk’s office at:

Mail:  Laclede County Clerk
200 N. Adams. Ave
Lebanon, MO 65536
Fax: 417-588-9288

***The Laclede County Clerk’s office must receive your application by 5:00 pm the 2nd Wednesday prior to the election to mail your ballot.

How the vote-by-mail process works

Once your application is processed you will receive a ballot in the mail. Follow the steps below to make sure that your ballot is counted.

Important: You must sign the return envelope and your ballot must be postmarked or received by the election’s office before the polls close at 7:00 p.m. on Election Day to be counted.

1.  Mark your ballot

  • Mark your ballot using a dark ballpoint pen.
  • To vote for a candidate, fill in the oval to the left of the candidate’s name of your choice.
  • To vote on any measure, fill in the oval next to the word Yes or the word No.
  • If you make a mistake, you can request a replacement ballot by contacting the election’s office.

2. Review your ballot

  • If you vote for more candidates than allowed or if you vote both Yes and No on a measure, your vote will not count for that candidate or measure.
  • You do not have to vote on all contests. Those you do vote on will still count.
  • Check both sides of your ballot for voting contests.

3. Sign and seal your ballot envelope

  • Important: Sign the return envelope or your ballot cannot be counted. 
  • You must have your envelope notarized unless you are voting by mail because you have a disability, illness, a caregiver, military or overseas citizen.
  • If you are assisting a Voter on filling out a ballot you will need to sign and complete the “assisting information section” at the bottom of the envelope.

4. Returning your ballot 

  • Important: If you return your ballot to the Laclede County Clerk’s office you must do so at or before 7:00 pm on Election Day.

Per Statute 115.291.1,You or a relative can return your ballot. The relative must be one of the following:

  • Spouse
  • Parent
  • Child
  • Grandparent
  • Brother
  • Sister
  • Grandchild
  • Mother-in-law
  • Father-in-law
  • Daughter-in-law
  • Son-in-law

After your ballot is received

  1. When your ballot is received, your signature on the return envelope will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card. 
  2. On Election Day, your ballot will be removed from the envelope and placed in a separate pile from the envelopes to protect your privacy.
  3. All verified absentee ballots are counted on Election Day in every election, regardless of the outcome or closeness of any race.
  4. Call the Laclede County Clerk’s office at 417-532-5471 after Election Day if you have questions about your absentee ballot.

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