Missouri Law Protects Voting Access For Hospitalized Patients

Unexpected hospital stays don't have to prevent Missourians from voting. State law ensures that registered voters who are hospitalized, confined due to illness or injury, or residing in a residential care or skilled nursing facility can still cast a ballot.

For the Tuesday, Aug. 4, primary election, voters hospitalized after 5 p.m. Wednesday, July 22, may request an emergency absentee ballot. Requests can be made through Election Day by contacting their local election authority.

To qualify, patients must be hospitalized or confined within their election jurisdiction or in an adjacent jurisdiction within the same county. If multiple absentee ballot requests come from the same facility, a bipartisan team will deliver the ballots, witness voting, and return the completed ballots and applications to election officials.

Hospital leaders are encouraged to coordinate with their county clerks to help ensure eligible patients can exercise their right to vote.

Learn more about Missouri elections and remember to vote on Tuesday, Aug. 4.