Wednesday marks voter registration deadline for Missouri primary

Monday, July 6, 2020
DAR file

Those who haven’t yet registered to vote in the upcoming Missouri primary election but wish to do so are running out of time to complete the task.

“Wednesday is the deadline,” said Butler County Clerk Tonyi Deffendall. “We have to receive it by 5 on Wednesday.”

The county clerk’s office, Deffendall said, will be open Wednesday until the deadline time. Missouri’s primary election will be held Aug. 4.

Those who go to the courthouse to register must enter through the east door and go through COVID and security screening before entering the building.

Those already registered to vote don’t need to do anything, Deffendall said.

“This is for new registrations, like if you’re moving into Butler County and registering for the first time,” she said.

Unlike registering to vote, Deffendall noted, voters already on the books may change their official address even on election day.

Anyone wishing to register must have a valid ID to do so.

While the minimum age to vote is 18, Deffendall said, those age 17-1/2 can register as long as they will be 18 on election day.

Those who aren’t sure if they are registered in Butler County can call Deffendall’s office at 573-686-8050 for verification.

It’s important, Deffendall said, not to delay if you wish to register, and mail-in forms likely will not make it to her office on time this late in the registration process.

“At this point, putting it in the mail is probably not going to get it here,” she emphasized.

Potential voters also may register at the license bureau, Deffendall noted, but she said that isn’t the best option given the current COVID-19 pandemic.

Another option, she said, is registering online.

“You can always go online to the secretary of state’s website. When you register there we get it the next morning,” she said.

The secretary of state’s website can be found at www.sos.mo.gov.

After registering, Deffendall said, voters will receive a card in the mail detailing their voting precinct and the address of their polling location.

As of March, she said, Butler County had 24,137 registered voters.

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