If getting out to vote on Election Day might be difficult for you, the Jefferson County Election Authority has set up satellite locations in Arnold, High Ridge and Hillsboro for no-excuse, early voting up until Tuesday, Nov. 5.
The satellite locations are at Rickman Auditorium, 747 Jeffco Blvd., in Arnold; New Hope Fellowship Church, 5919 Antire Road, in High Ridge; and the Hillsboro Community Civic Center, 10349 Business 21.
No excuse, early voting will be held at those satellite locations from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. through Friday, Nov. 1.
Residents also may vote early at the County Clerk’s Office, 729 Maple St., in Hillsboro from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Monday, Nov. 4. On Saturday, Nov. 2, voters may cast their ballot between 8 a.m. to noon at the County Clerk’s Office.
The no-excuse, early voting began Oct. 22 at the County Clerk’s Office, and it began on Monday at the satellite locations.
County Clerk Jeannie Goff said she’s seen a high voter turnout at her office, adding that 1,039 people cast their ballots on the first day of early voting, and 1,143 on the second day.
The average waiting time is about 20 minutes, she said.
“We have about 30 spots set up – we took over the whole back office and everything – so we’re doing everything we can to get them in and out,” Goff said. “(The line) might have gone outside a little bit, but most of the time it’s in the building. It does wrap around the hall to the front (of the Administrative Center).”
Satellite locations
In anticipation of a larger voter turnout due to the presidential election, Goff said the satellite locations were set up to make voting more accessible to residents, hopefully leading to shorter wait times.
Goff said the Hillsboro satellite location is new this year.
“(The satellite locations) keep them from having to drive all the way to Hillsboro to vote early,” Goff said. “Four years ago, when we were voting for presidential, our parking lot (at the County Clerk’s Office) got bottlenecked and you could hardly get in and out. It was a lot for this area. Our parking lots aren’t that big.
“This year, I opened up the third place at the Hillsboro Civic Center. They were kind enough to let us use it. That way the bulk of (the voters) will go over there and have better parking.”
For more information about early voting in Jefferson County, call the clerk’s office at 636-797-5486.
Election Day
While Goff expects higher turnout than usual on Election Day, and the ballot has many measures for voters to contemplate, she doesn’t expect waiting times to be too extensive.
“A lot of people have already read the ballot, have received their sample ballot, so that helps a lot (with wait times),” Goff said. “Throughout the day, there could be a surge (in voting), but most of the time, historically, it’s busier in the morning and then it dies down.”
On Election Day, polling places are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., but Goff recommends voters cast their ballots between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. at their polling place because the lines most likely will be shortest then.
She said many people try to vote before and after work, leading to longer waiting times during those periods.
Those who are in line at 7 p.m. on Election Day will be permitted to vote.
Goff said voters must bring a valid form of photo identification – a Missouri ID, license, passport or military ID.
