Unless you’re a candidate running for office, Nov. 3 seems a long way away.
But Jefferson County election officials caution that while you don’t need to decide who to vote for in the upcoming general election yet, you should put some thought into how you’re going to vote – in person or by mail.
Election officials are expecting a huge voter turnout in November, which could translate into long lines at polling places.
County Clerk Ken Waller is predicting a turnout as high as 75 percent or more in November.
A 75 percent turnout would mean nearly 116,000 of the 154,625 Jefferson County residents who were registered to vote in August would cast a ballot in November, compared with about 41,7503 (27 percent turnout) in the most recent August primary election.
“There are a lot of variables that will play into that turnout number,” Waller said, “but given that it’s a presidential election, with a governor’s race on the ballot and also a constitutional amendment, I think that’s certainly possible.”
Jeannie Goff, chief of staff of the County Clerk’s Office, said to be fully prepared for a voter onslaught, the office is actually planning for a 100 percent turnout.
“That means ordering enough ballots and other supplies,” she said.
Goff said efforts taken in the August and June elections to make voting safer during the COVID-19 pandemic will be redoubled in November.
“We will have more than enough hand sanitizer on hand,” she said. “We’ll continue to use the (Plexiglas) shields at the check-in stations. We’ll have three times the number of pens (to mark ballots) because the election judges won’t have time to sanitize them like they did in June and August.”
Poll workers needed
Speaking of election judges, more are needed to staff the county’s 53 precincts in November.
Christine Hunter, office coordinator, said 150 to 200 more people are needed to supplement the 400 or so who were assigned to polling places in August.
“We need the extra people just so everyone will be able to take a break,” Goff said. “They need the time to get a decent lunch or dinner, and there will be too many people coming in to allow that (under normal staffing levels).”
The following are some important dates to remember concerning the
Nov. 3 election.
Oct. 7: Registration to vote
The statewide deadline to register to vote for the Nov. 3 election is Oct. 7, and Goff said prospective voters, both neophytes and those who have moved from other places, are urged not to wait until the last day.
“As soon as you can, let us know where you are if you’ve moved within Jefferson County,” Goff said. “People just assume because they’ve stayed in the county they can vote. Some show up at their old polling place on Election Day, and others show up at their new place, but if we don’t have their current information, it causes confusion. If you’ve changed addresses in Jefferson County, you need to let us know.”
Those moving to the county from elsewhere need to register in Jefferson County.
“Voter registration doesn’t move from county to county,” Goff said. “You need to register with our office if you’re now living here.”
In addition, people who will be 18 years old on Election Day are eligible to vote.
Registration can be completed online at s1.sos.mo.gov/elections/
voterregistration, at the County Clerk’s office in Hillsboro or at libraries.
“Librarians are deputized to register voters,” Goff said.
Voters may check their registration status on the Missouri Secretary of State’s website as well.
Oct. 21: Absentee, mail-in ballot deadlines
Waller said he expects 15 percent to 20 percent of the ballots cast in the upcoming election will not be done in person at polling places on Nov. 3.
“We could have up to 20,000 absentee and mail-in ballots in the November election,” he said.
Missouri always has allowed absentee balloting, which requires voters to specify a reason why they won’t be able to cast a vote in person. Those reasons include illness (or taking care of an ill person), those living away from home (such as college students), those expecting to be out of the county on Election Day and election workers.
For this year, a new reason is allowed: Those who feel they are at risk of contracting the COVID-19 virus if they cast an in-person ballot.
Also for this year’s election cycle, the state is allowing mail-in ballots, in which voters don’t have to furnish a reason why they’re voting by mail.
For differences between the two forms of balloting, see the accompanying graphic at right.
The deadline to apply for both forms of ballots is Oct. 21. The application, a common form for both types of ballot, can be found on the County Clerk’s page at jeffcomo.org.
The actual ballots will not be mailed out until Sept. 22.
“At least, that’s what we’re hoping,” Waller said.
Court-ordered changes to the original wording of Constitutional Amendment No. 3, which deals with proposed changes to the “Clean Missouri” initiative, pose a difficulty.
After losing an appeal to overturn the court ruling, Attorney General Eric Schmitt said he would not ask the Missouri Supreme Court to take up the matter, but opponents of the issue are asking the courts to make further modifications.
“We’re hoping that it’s decided one way or the other before Sept. 22 so we can send ballots out,” Waller said.
That decision may impact the ability of voters to cast absentee ballots in person at the County Clerk’s Office in Hillsboro. The first day to do so also is Sept. 22.
In the most recent presidential election in 2016, the county had a 73.74 percent voter turnout, so a 75 percent turnout this year seems likely, which could mean long lines on Election Day.
Both Waller and Goff said they hope as many voters as possible mail in their ballots or stop by before Election Day.
“The more the merrier,” Goff said. “The more people who want to vote (by alternative method) will ease the lines on Election Day. We’re expecting the lines will be long and steady all day on Nov. 3.”
Waller said he and his staff are considering expanding hours for voters to cast in-person absentee ballots in the Hillsboro office, and possibly opening temporary offices to allow voters to cast absentee votes before the election and possibly setting up additional polling places for Election Day.
“We’re looking at possible locations along the Hwy. 30 corridor and along the Hwy. 141 corridor,” he said.
Information about such services will be included in the postcards sent out to voters that serve as identification at the polls.
“We’re hoping to get the cards out by Oct. 5,” Waller said. “I really wanted to get distinctive looking cards in the mail so people would recognize them as different from the rest of the mail. We’ve done goldenrod, yellow and light blue, but for the next election, they’re going to be pink, for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.”
Mail service concerns
Complicating the issue about absentee and mail-in balloting is talk about whether the U.S. Postal Service will be able to deliver a deluge of ballots in time. They have to be in the County Clerk’s Office by 5 p.m. on Election Day to be counted.
Waller said he has spoken with postal officials in St. Louis, who have assured him election mail will be a priority.
“I’ve been told that if there is a lot of (election) mail in St. Louis on Election Day, they will let us know and we can drive up there and pick it up,” Waller said.
But those concerns are all the more reason, he said, for voters to decide how they will vote, apply early if they want to vote by mail and return ballots as soon as possible to allow timely delivery.
Postal officials also encourage voters to act as soon as possible, no later than 15 days before Nov. 3 to send in their application and no later than a week before to mail in an absentee or mail-in ballot.
Goff said in the August election, 89 absentee ballots and two mail-in ballots were not counted because they were received after the deadline.
Most, she said, had been postmarked two or three days before the election, and would not likely have arrived on time in any circumstance.
She said one ballot that arrived late, however, was postmarked 10 days before Election Day.
Waller said he spoke with one voter who called the office saying she did not receive an absentee ballot 10 days after she was mailed one.
“We mailed her out a replacement, and it turned out she eventually got the original one – 18 days later,” he said. “The Postal Service is very reliable, but things can happen. That’s why we advise mailing as early as possible.”
Goff said people are welcome to call the office for help.
“If you have a question, a concern, anything that you want to ask about the election and how to vote – we’re here to help. Give us a call. We’ll let you know what you need to do,” she said.
The office’s telephone number is 636-797-5486.