Am I eligible to vote an absentee ballot?

Registered Missouri voters who expect to be prevented from going to their polling place on Election Day may vote absentee beginning six weeks prior to an election either by mail or in person.

Where do I go to vote an absentee ballot in person?

In-person absentee voting is available in the County Clerk’s Voter Registration Office located in room 204 of the Lincoln County Courthouse on Main Street in Troy. Business hours are 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The clerk’s office is also open the Saturday prior to every election from 8 a.m. – noon for absentee voting.

Absentee voters must provide an acceptable form of personal photo identification and 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 and resides at the same address;
3. Religious belief or practice;
4. Employment as:
   1. 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;
   2. A first responder;
   3. A health care worker; or
   4. A member of law enforcement;
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 of the Revised Statutes of the State of Missouri because of safety concerns.

Examples of acceptable identification are:

1. Nonexpired Missouri driver’s license;
2. Nonexpired Missouri nondriver’s license;
3. A document that satisfies all the following requirements:
   1. The document contains the name of the individual to whom the document was issued, and the name substantially conforms to the most recent signature in the individual’s voter registration record;
   2. The document shows a photograph of the individual;
   3. The document includes an expiration date, and the document is not expired, or, if expired, the document expired after the date of the most recent general election; and
   4. The document was issued by the United States or the state of Missouri; or
4. Any identification containing a photograph of the individual, which is issued by the Missouri National Guard, the United States Armed Forces, including the Space Force, or the United States Department of Veteran Affairs to a member or former member of the Missouri National Guard or the United States Armed Forces, including the Space Force, and that is not expired or does not have an expiration date.

Curbside Assistance is available. Park at the south entrance off Collier Street and call (636) 462-8090 to request curbside assistance.

The no-excuse absentee voting period begins the second Tuesday prior to each election and ends at 5 p.m. the Monday night before the election. Any registered voter may cast their ballot during the no-excuse absentee voting period.

How do I request an absentee ballot by mail?

Lincoln County registered voters can request absentee ballots by mail by submitting this form: 

Absentee Application

By email to absentee@lincolncomo.gov  

By fax to (636) 528-5528 

By mail to Kenneth Schulte, Lincoln County Clerk, 201 Main Street, Troy, MO 63379. 

Relatives within the second degree (spouses, parents, children, grandparents, grandchildren, siblings) may complete an absentee ballot application, in-person, on behalf of the voter who wishes to vote absentee.

College students and out-of-town workers can have their ballots mailed to their out-of-town address.

All requests for an absentee ballot to be mailed must be received by the election authority no later than 5:00 p.m. on the second Wednesday prior to any election. 

Voters requesting an absentee ballot by mail who have registered to vote by mail and have never voted before are required to submit a copy of their personal identification (as listed above) with their absentee ballot application unless they have provided a copy with their registration application. 

Does my mail absentee ballot need to be notarized?

Each mail absentee ballot must have the voter’s signature notarized on the return envelope before they return it to the election authority. This requirement 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. Permanently disabled voters and their caregivers must complete this form in order to be exempt from the notary requirement. Disabled Absentee Application Civilian mail ballots must be received in the county clerk’s office no later than 7 p.m. on Election Day to be counted.

How can I return my mail absentee ballot?

Mailed absentee ballots can be returned by U.S. Mail using the provided envelope. No postage is required. You may also return your mailed ballot in-person to the clerk’s office or a relative within the second degree may return your ballot for you. You must hand the ballot to a clerk. DO NOT USE THE DROP BOX!

Military and Overseas Citizens

Military and overseas citizens should visit the Military and Overseas Voting Portal on the Missouri Secretary of State’s website. Through this portal, eligible voters can register to vote, request, and receive absentee ballots, and learn about upcoming elections. Follow the link to the portal at: https://movotesportal.sos.mo.gov/movotes/voter/login.aspx 

Alternatively, military and overseas citizens may complete a Federal Post Card Application fpca.pdf (SECURED) and submit the FPCA electronically or by mail. 

Military and overseas voters in hostile zones can return their absentee ballots via email or through the Military and Overseas Voting Portal. All other absentee ballots must be returned by mail or in person by the voter or by a relative within the second degree. Military voters must return their ballot no later than noon on the Friday after the election.