Voters in Atchison County who were registered by March 11, 2020, who expect to be prevented from going to their polling place on Election Day, June 2, 2020, may vote absentee by requesting a 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, including a person who is primarily responsible for the physical care of a person who is incapacitated or confined due to illness or disability;
3) Religious belief or practice;
4) 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;
5) Incarceration, provided all qualifications for voting are retained.
6) Certified participation in the address confidentiality program established under sections 589.660 to 589.681 because of safety concerns.
Atchison County voters can request an absentee ballot from the office of Susette Taylor, Atchison County Clerk. 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.
The Atchison County Courthouse currently remains closed due to the COVID-19 restrictions, but the Clerk’s office is open and ready to assist you. You can reach her office by calling 660-744-6214. Laws have not changed, so you must attest to one of the six reasons listed to vote an absentee ballot and you must have it notarized if you have the ballot mailed to your residence. Curbside voting is available at the courthouse, but you must call ahead.
The following link is also available for an absentee ballot form: https://www.sos.mo.gov/CMSImages/ElectionGo VoteMissouri//Absentee Ballotrequestformfillable.pdf.
Print the absentee ballot request form, complete the form and send it by fax, e-mail or mail:
• 660-744-5499
• acclerk2@atcomo.org
• P.O. Box 280, Rock Port, MO 64482
Faxed or mailed absentee ballot requests must be received by the clerk’s office no later than the 5:00 p.m. on the second Wednesday prior to the election, May 20, 2020. Voters can vote by absentee in the clerk’s office until 4:30 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 personal identification unless they provided a copy with their registration application. Examples of acceptable identification are:
1) Identification issued by the state of Missouri, an agency of the state, or a local election authority of the state;
2) Identification issued by the United States government or agency thereof;
3) Identification issued by an institution of higher education, including a university, college, vocational and technical school, located within the state of Missouri;
4) A copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or other government document that contains the name and address of the voter; or
5) Other identification approved by the Secretary of State under rules promulgated pursuant to Missouri law.
This identification requirement, as well as the notary requirement for absentee ballots, does not apply to overseas voters, those on active military duty or members of their immediate family living with them or voters who are permanently disabled and their caregivers.
Additional information for military and overseas voters may be found at the section entitled Military and Overseas Voters found at the following link: https://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/govotemissouri/registeroverseas
Sample ballots for all polling locations can also be found at www.acmoelections.org.
Voters who live outside of the city limits of Fairfax and in the Fairfax School District will not have any issues to vote on at the June 2 election. All other voters will have issues on their ballot.
Additional information will be released about protocol at the local polling locations as Election Day comes closer.
