With Election Day just a week away, more voters in Missouri are heading out to cast their ballots early before November 5. Long lines are forming at various voting locations. In St. Louis County, early voter turnout has exceeded 21 percent, prompting election officials to adjust their plans. In St. Charles County, officials are addressing parking issues and overcrowding by adding off-site parking and expanding capacity at satellite voting locations, as reported by First Alert 4.
Many in Missouri are using "no excuse absentee" voting, a term for the early voting option passed in 2022. In St. Louis County, nearly 20% of total votes from the 2020 presidential race have been cast. Boone County is using mobile polling stations to reach voters, while Jackson County is experiencing long lines as they manage the influx of early voters, according to Missouri Independent.
In the Kansas City area, voters are disappointed by the limited number of early voting polling locations. "This is a much bigger turnout for 'no-excuse' voting than we anticipated," said Sara Zorich, a director with the Jackson County Election Board, in a statement to The Kansas City Star. This situation raises concerns about the planning and predictions made by election authorities regarding voter behavior.
On the other side of Missouri, officials are responding more proactively to the turnout. "With a historic surge in early voting," a spokesperson for the St. Charles County Election Authority reported that they are implementing changes to manage the large turnout. This includes adding off-site parking and extending the operational hours of a satellite voting location at Element Church to include an extra day, as stated by First Alert 4.
The statewide use of “no excuse absentee” voting indicates a change in Missouri's electoral landscape, showing enthusiasm for more flexible voting options. As mentioned by Missouri Independent, Kurt Bahr, director of elections in St. Charles County, sees the new law as a key reason for the rise in early voters.
