(Springfield’s News Talk 104.1) – Absentee voting will begin on Tuesday, February 20 for the upcoming General Municipal Election.

In Greene County, the April ballot includes a wide variety of candidates and/or issues in nine cities and seven school districts.

Voters are permitted to cast an absentee ballot for one of the following reasons:

• Absence on Election Day from the jurisdiction of the election authority in which such voter is registered to vote;
• Incapacity or confinement due to illness or physical disability on Election Day, 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;
• Religious belief or practice;
• Employment as an election authority or by an election authority at a location other than such voter’s polling place, a first responder, a health care worker, or a member of law enforcement;
• Incarceration, provided all qualifications for voting are retained;
• Certified participation in the address confidentiality program established under RSMo 589.660 to 589.681 because of safety concerns.

In-person absentee voting will be available at the Greene County Elections Center, 1126 N. Boonville Ave. in Springfield, Monday to Friday between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm, up to and including the day prior to the election.

In order to vote in-person absentee, by statute voters must present one of the following forms of photo identification:

• A nonexpired Missouri driver or non-driver license;
• A nonexpired military ID, including a veteran’s ID card;
• A nonexpired United States passport;
• Another photo ID issued by the United States or the state of Missouri which is either not expired or expired after the date of the most recent general election.

To vote absentee by mail, voters may either submit a handwritten request or complete the fillable form available at https://vote.greenecountymo.gov.

These requests must be signed by the voters and received in the Office of the County Clerk no later than 5:00 p.m. on March 20.

Mailed ballots must be voted, notarized, returned by mail, and received in the Office of the County Clerk before 7:00 p.m. on Election Day.

Questions about absentee voting may be directed to the Office of the County Clerk at 417-868-4060 or AbsenteeVoting@greenecountymo.gov.