Voting Rights

Caucus Confusion?

January 31, 2024

In 2022, Republican Governor Mike Parson signed HB 1878, which eliminated Missouri’s state-run presidential preference primary elections and designated a party-run system for choosing presidential nominees. Each party will oversee their own nominating process.

Libertarians

Libertarians will choose their delegates at their state convention on Saturday, February 24 in Earth City, MO. More information visit the MO Libertarian Party website.

Republicans

A Republican caucus will be held on Saturday, March 2 in every Missouri county. Any registered voter with a Republican affiliation or who is unaffiliated can participate in the caucus in the county where they’re registered.

Your caucus location is determined by the county (or city) in which you are registered to vote. The full list of caucus locations can be found here.

More information visit the MO GOP website.

Democrats

Missouri’s Democratic presidential primary will be held on Saturday, March 23, 2024.

The Democratic presidential primary will be a hybrid election, offering Missouri Democrats an opportunity to cast their vote by mail or at an in-person voting site from 8 a.m. until noon on the day of the primary. For key dates and more information view the MO Democratic Party one page explainer or visit their website.

Provide Testimony on Initiative Petition Bills up for Hearing in #MOLEG Tuesday, January 23, 2024!

January 22, 2024

Bills designed to gut Missouri’s long-standing initiative process and end majority rule are up for public hearing in the Missouri legislature on Tuesday, January. 23 at 10:30 a.m. Testify in person at the Capitol or submit testimony online to urge lawmakers to protect direct democracy in Missouri!

House Elections Public Hearings on HB 1749HJR 72 & HJR 102
Tuesday, January 23, 2024, 10:30 a.m.
Missouri House Elections Committee, Missouri State Capitol, House Hearing Room 6
Submit testimony online by midnight on January 23 here!*

* You must click the confirmation email you receive to ensure your statement is submitted.

How to submit online testimony to the Missouri House

Sample testimony

Let MOVPC know if you attend or submit online testimony here.

About the bills:

HJR 72 (Lewis)

  • This is a proposed constitutional amendment to end majority rule in Missouri by imposing a concurrent majority requirement for constitutional initiative petitions.
  • If passed by voters, this would end majority rule by requiring initiative petitions to pass by not only majority of all votes cast statewide, but also must pass by a majority of all votes cast in a majority of Missouri’s eight congressional districts. 
  • This measure also regulates topics and sponsors for IPs, prohibiting IPs from being used for food or property tax increases; and prohibits any foreign sponsorship or funding of IPs; it also prohibits campaign contributions to candidates or political parties based on their position for or against an IP.
  • If passed by the legislature, voters would need to pass this measure (by a simple majority); the summary statement to read: “Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to: Forbid foreign countries from sponsoring or funding initiatives;  Prohibit taxes on food or property by initiative; and Pass initiatives by a majority of voters in a majority of congressional districts?”


HJR 102 (Lewis)

  • This is a proposed constitutional amendment to end majority rule in Missouri by imposing a concurrent majority requirement for constitutional initiative petitions.
  • It passed by voters, this would require constitutional initiative petitions to pass by not only a majority or all votes cast statewide but also pass in a majority of Missouri’s 163 state representative districts.
  • This measure also prohibits initiative petitions on food or property tax increases; and prohibits any foreign sponsorship or funding of initiative petitions.
  • If passed by the legislature, voters would need to pass this measure (by a simple majority).


HB 1749 (Haffner)

  • This is a statutory measure setting various regulations for IPs
  • It sets IP pagination, font and size requirements, requires IP petitions and signature pages to be made available electronically
  • Provides that no IPs can declare any federal law a violation of the US constitution or amend any federal law or the United States Constitution – this is already the case. 
  • Imposes a 30-day residency requirement for petition gatherers in Missouri – this is likely unconstitutional
  • Petition gatherers cannot be paid based on the number of signatures collected
  • Currently, any Missouri citizen can challenge the ballot title or fiscal note of a ballot initiative. This bill would limit those changes only to Missouri registered voters. It also provides that no court can issue relief on such a challenge less than 8 weeks before election day;
  • Similarly this bill provides that only a voter (as opposed to any Missouri citizen) can challenge the Secretary of State’s determination that number of signatures submitted to get an IP on the ballot is insufficient. It also provides that if a court substantially changes the language of an IP summary statement or ballot title that any signatures collected before that time will be invalidated. 

It’s National Voter Education Week!

October 2, 2023

Mobilize your community. Help three people register today! Are you registered to vote? In MO, check your voter registration here.

Tues., Sept 19 is National Voter Registration Day

It’s National Voter Education Week!

September 19, 2023

Make sure you are #VoteReady to hit the polls in the upcoming primaries & general election by registering or confirming your registration at NationalVoterRegistrationDay.org.

In honor of last week’s Disability Voting Rights Week, the League of Women Voters of Metro St. Louis and Paraquad teamed up to create this guide for voters with disabilities.

The Missouri Voter Protection Coalition (MOVPC) has put together information on what every MO voter needs to know, which can be found here.

VOTE on April 4-General Municipal Election Day

March 2023

No-excuse, in-person absentee voting is able for the two weeks before each election. Several area election authorities now offer satellite voting sites for voters with a state-issued photo ID at the following locations

St. Louis City

  • Board of Elections, 300 N. Tucker Blvd., 63101
  • Buder Library, 4401 Hampton Ave., 63109
  • Schlafly Library, 225 N. Euclid Ave., 63108
  • Walnut Park Library, 5760 W. Florissant Ave., 63120

St. Louis County:

  • Board of Elections, 725 Northwest Plaza Dr., St. Ann, 63074
  • North County Recreation Complex – 2577 Redman Rd., St. Louis MO 63136
  • Ballwin Police Department, 300 Park Drive, Ballwin, 63011
  • Affton White-Rodgers Community Center, 9801 Mackenzie Rd., St. Louis, 63123

St. Charles:

  • County Clerk, 397 Turner Blvd., St. Peters, 63376
  • Element Church, 100 Mall Parkway, Suite 500, Wentzville, 63385

The polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day. Current law requires a government-issued photo ID or passport to vote. Voters without a valid ID can cast a provisional ballot at their polling place on Election Day but their signature will have to match one on file with the election authority to count. 

For a free ride to the polls in St. Louis City or County, call the A. Phillip Randolph Institute at 314-562-0411.

If you have difficulties registering or have any questions about or problems voting in Missouri, call the Election Protection Hotline at 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683).

Sign up to volunteer for Election Protection for April 4 Election at protectthevote.net

Take Action to Protect Voting Rights in MO!

January 30, 2023

Elections and Elected Officials committee will hold hearings on initiative petitions at 10 a.m. Thursday, February 2 – make your voice heard with the #MOLEG.

Submit testimony to the Elections and Elected Officials committee by 9 a.m. on Thursday, 2/2/23.

Tell the #MOLEG we support expanding voter registration and our local elections officials (HB 781).

Tell committee members we oppose HB703, HB780 and HB HJR19.

Talking points here.

Take Action to Protect Voting Rights in MO!

January 29, 2023

Two bills heard by the Missouri House Elections Committee last week have now passed out of committee and are slated to be heard by the House Rules & Administrative Oversight Committee Monday, Jan. 30, 2023 at 12:30 p.m.

The proposed resolutions attacking Missouri’s citizen initiative process will make it harder for citizens to place a proposed measure on the ballot and make it harder for citizen initiatives to pass once they are on the ballot.  

HJR 43 and HJR 30 Bill Summaries and Talking Points

Testimony must be received by 11:30 a.m, Monday, January 30.

Submit Testimony here.

Vote Nov 8 – Midterms Matter!

Volunteers Needed for Election Protection!

Volunteer as a nonpartisan Election Protection Volunteer. Your contributions will help ensure that all eligible voters are able to cast a ballot and make their voices heard. Volunteer opportunities include polling place field monitoring, social media monitoring, and assisting local coordinators.
Sign up at ProtectTheVote.net!

Election Protection – Problems Voting?

Questions or problems voting on or before Election Day? Contact Election Protection. Volunteers will be available to assist you with voting problems. Call 866-OUR-VOTE or chat online at https://866ourvote.org/

Fact Sheet: Protecting Against Voter Intimidation

Is voter intimidation illegal? What are examples of voter intimidation? Are guns permitted at polling places? What does it mean to be a poll watcher?Learn more at the Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection – Georgetown Law.

Absentee Voting Underway in Missouri

No-Excuse In-Person Absentee Voting With Valid Photo ID: Oct. 25 – Nov. 7 

o-excuse in-person absentee voting (early voting) is now available across St. Louis at the Board of Elections and various satellite offices. Check your local election authority for early voting times and locations, election day polling places and sample ballots: 

Know Before you Go – Look up Your Sample Ballot

Look up Your Sample Ballot

What Every Missouri Voter Needs to Know

Link to quick reference palm cards below:

Understanding Absentee Voting English | Spanish

Election Day Voting in 2022 English | Spanish

Strict Photo ID Requirements Mandated by MO HB 1878

Accessible Voting Instruction For Missouri Voters

Missouri Developmental Disabilities Council (MODDC) is connecting voters and election workers in Missouri with quick, overview videos on how to use the accessible voting equipment in your county. 

Download the postcard for voters and election workers to have with them at their precinct on Election Day.

Choose your county to view instructional videos in English and Spanish.

Free Rides to the Polls

Redistricting Information

There have been significant changes to all the voting districts, especially to Congressional Districts 1 and 2. Please check to know who you are voting for and if your polling placeshave changed.  Reminder –  St. Louis County voters can vote at any polling place.

St. Louis County Board of Elections has created an interactive website that can help you determine your new districts.

Secretary of State Offers Free ID to Vote

Do you need a free ID to vote? The MO Secretary of State will provide one for free. Visit GoVoteMissouri.com to begin the process. If you already have the necessary underlying documents, bring them with you to the DMV and say “I am here for my free ID to vote.”

Read more about the changes to voting in MO on the HB 1878 Fact Sheet here.

Women’s Voices Members Encourage Voters to Head to the Polls on Nov 8

Volunteers gathered at Grant’s View Library on Mon., Oct. 24 to address and stamp 700 Get Out the Vote postcards to encourage community members to exercise their right to vote in the upcoming general election. Volunteers prepared and mailed an additional 400 postcards on their own, with all cards being mailed in time to reach voters before the election.