Voting in Missouri’s Aug. 2 primary election


Missouri’s statewide primary election is scheduled for Aug. 2, 2022. Here is what you need to know about voting in the primary: 

  • Hours: Polling places are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day. Anyone who is in line at the time polls close has the right to cast a ballot.
  • Polling places: Click here to find your polling location. 
  • Voter ID requirements: Voters in Missouri must present identification at the polls. The following forms of identification are acceptable: 
    • “Identification issued by the state of Missouri, an agency of the state, or a local election authority of the state;”
    • “Identification issued by the United States government or agency thereof;”
    • “Identification issued by an institution of higher education, including a university, college, vocational and technical school, located within the state of Missouri; or”
    • “A copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, government check or other government document that contains the name and address of the voter.”
  • Returning an absentee/mail-in ballot: A completed ballot must be received by election officials by Aug. 2. Voters casting their absentee ballots in person must do so by 5:00 p.m. on Aug. 1. 
  • Participation requirements: In Missouri, primary elections are open, meaning that a voter can participate in the partisan primary of his or her choice. 

A primary election is used to narrow the field of candidates for certain positions or to determine the political party nominees before a general election. Missouri has an open primary. Voters are not required to be affiliated with a political party in order to vote in that party’s primary. Voters are also able to declare any party at the polls regardless of previous party affiliation. 

In the Missouri primary, voters throughout the state will select one candidate to serve in the U.S. Senate, eight candidates to serve in the House of Representatives, a state auditor, 17 state senators, and 163 state representatives. Clay County, Jackson County, Platte County, and the city of St. Louis have several municipal positions that will be on the ballot. Using Ballotpedia’s sample ballot lookup tool, voters can find the candidates that will be on their ballot on Aug. 2. 

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