Absentee Voting Information

Registered Missouri voters who expect to be prevented from going to their polling place on Election Day may vote an absentee ballot either in-person or by mail beginning six (6) weeks prior to an election. Relatives within the second degree (spouse, parent, child, etc.) may complete an absentee ballot application, in person, on behalf of the voter who wishes to vote absentee. Requests for absentee ballots to be mailed must be received in the Office of the County Clerk by 5:00 p.m. the 2nd Wednesday immediately preceding an election.

Reasons for Voting Absentee

By law, absentee voters must provide one of the following reasons for voting absentee:

  • 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, including a person who is primarily responsible for the physical care of a person who is incapacitated or confined due to illness or disability (No Notary Required); and lives at the same address
  • Religious belief or practice;
  • Employment as an election authority, as a member of an election authority, or by an election authority at a location other than such voter’s polling place; a first responder, a healthcare worker or a member of law enforcement
  • Incarceration, provided all qualifications for voting are retained; or
  • Certified participation in the address confidentiality program established under sections 589.660 to 589.681 RSMo. because of safety concerns.

View the Absentee Ballot Application Form. 


In-Person Absentee Voting

Voters can cast an absentee ballot at the Office of the County Clerk located at

Perry County Clerk's Office 
 321 N Main St. Suite 2
 Perryville, MO 63775

Office Hours

 Monday through Friday 8 am – 5 pm (open through the lunch hour)
 Saturday immediately preceding Election Day 8 am – 12, noon
 Monday prior to the election until 5 pm – Last Day before to Vote Absentee In-Person

No-Excuse Absentee Voting

  • Any voter may cast an absentee ballot in-person beginning the 2nd Tuesday prior to Election Day.  No excuse or reason is required.
  • A signature is required on an absentee ballot request, by law.

Send Absentee Ballot Request forms to:
 By Mail:  Perry County Clerk’s Office
 321 N Main St, Suite 2
 Perryville, MO 63775
 By Email: alayton@perrycountymo.us
 

Voting Information for College Students in Missouri

This information is available to assist students in navigating the available options when registering to vote and casting a ballot in Missouri elections.

Residency: School vs. Home

You may register to vote using the permanent address you consider “home” – it could be your parents’ house, dorm room, or another residence.  Understand that the address in which you are registered to vote will affect the local issues and political races in which you are able to vote.

  • At School: If you choose to register at your school residence address (dorm, apartment, etc), you will vote at your assigned polling location near your school on Election Day.
  • At Home: If you choose to register at your home address (parents), you will be assigned a polling location near your home on Election Day.

If you are unable to vote at your polling location on Election Day, you may vote an absentee ballot.

Military and overseas voters


Military and voters have two options when requesting an absentee ballot:

  1. Login to the Military and Overseas Voting Access Portal developed by the Missouri Secretary of State’s Office
  2. Complete a Federal Post Card Application and submit to the County Clerk’s Office.

  3. Absentee ballots for military and overseas voters are available 46 days before the election. Absentee ballot requests from military and overseas voters must be received by 5:00 p.m. CST on the Friday prior to the election.

(Military and/or Overseas voters may request and receive an absentee ballot online by logging in to the Military and Overseas Voting Access Portal  or by email by submitting a Federal Post Card Application to the County Clerk’s Office.)

Military and Overseas Voting Access Portal


This secure portal allows military and/or overseas voters to register to vote and request and receive an absentee ballot electronically. If you are a military member in a hostile fire zone, you can transmit your voted ballot back to the County Clerk’s Office electronically. For more information, visit the Secretary of State’s Military and Overseas Voting Access Portal webpage. 


Federal Post Card Application


Military and overseas voters can register to vote and request an absentee ballot using the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) available through www.FVAP.gov. The Federal Post Card Application allows voters to select the method in which they would prefer to receive their absentee ballot. Please ensure all submitted FPCA forms are completed entirely to prevent delay in processing ballot requests.

Send completed FPCA forms to:

By Mail: Perry County Clerk’s Office

321 N Main St. Suite 2

Perryville MO, 63775

By Email: jwmkutz@perrycountymo.us

Returning Voted Absentee Ballots

Voted absentee ballots from military or overseas voters must be received by 12:00 PM CST in the Office of the County Clerk on the Friday following the election.

Only military and overseas voters in hostile fire zones may transmit their voted ballot electronically to the County Clerk’s Office. All other military or overseas ballots must be mailed to:

 Perry County Clerk’s Office
 321 N Main St. Suite 2
 Perryville MO 63775

For questions, contact the County Clerk’s Office at (573)547-4242


Permanently Disabled List

Any voter with a permanent disability can request to be placed on the permanent disabled list. Upon returning a completed application, the voter will automatically receive, in the mail, an application prior to each election in which they are eligible to vote. If the voter decides they wish to vote in that election, they sign the application and send back to the election authority. After receipt of the signed application, the voter will be mailed an absentee ballot. Voters on this list remain on this list until they ask to be removed, become disqualified, or no longer reside at the address of registration.

Printable Permanently Disabled Application

Hospital Voting, Care Facility Voting, Skilled Nursing Facility Voting

If a registered voter becomes confined due to illness or injury after 5 p.m. on the Wednesday immediately preceding an election, you may contact our office and arrange for a team of bipartisan Election Judges to deliver an absentee ballot to the hospital, care facility, or skilled nursing facility where the voter is located.

Other Important Information

When voting absentee by mail, the ballot return envelope must be notarized before returning it to the Election Authority except under the following circumstances:

  • If you are incapacitated or confined due to illness or disability or you are caring for a person who is incapacitated or confined due to illness or disability;
  • Residing outside the boundaries of the United States; or
  • On active duty with the armed forces of the United States or members of their immediate family living with them.
  • Mailed absentee ballots shall be returned in the ballot envelope provided and shall only be returned by mail, by the voter in person, in person by a relative within the second degree by blood or marriage, or registered carrier. Voted absentee ballots must be received in the Office of the County Clerk by 5 pm. on Election Day.

 Note: Voters requesting an absentee ballot by mail who have registered by mail and have not voted in person are required to submit a copy of their personal identification unless they provided a copy with their registration application.

 Examples of acceptable identification are:

  • Identification issued by the state of Missouri, an agency of the state, or a local election authority of the state;
  • Identification issued by the United States government or agency thereof;
  • Identification issued by an institution of higher education, including a university, college, vocational and technical school, located within the state of Missouri;
  • A copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or other government document that contains the name and address of the voter;
  • Driver’s license or state identification card issued by another state; or
  • Other identification approved by the secretary of state under rules promulgated pursuant to subsection 3 of this section other identification approved by federal law.