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Absentee Voting For November Election Opens

With the November general election now just six weeks away, Wayne County will send out ballots this week — both traditional absentee and the special mail-in option authorized by the Missouri General Assembly due to COVID-19.

Voters have several options for the general election:

* Vote in-person Nov. 3 at the Wayne County Collector’s Office Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1-4:30 p.m..

* Vote using a traditional absentee ballot mailed to a voter’s home which may be either mailed back to the county or dropped off in-person before Nov. 3.

* In voting absentee without using a notary, a voter must be physically incapacitated or disabled, confined due to illness or caring for someone incapacitated or confined. Also not requiring a notary is the coronavirus excuse — including voters 65 and older, residence in a long-term care facility, those with chronic lung disease, chronic moderate-to-severe asthma, chronic kidney disease, liver disease, serious heart conditions, diabetes and those who are otherwise immunocompromised.

* To vote without going to the polls on Election Day and not having a valid absentee ballot excuse, a special mail-in option may be requested. These time-limited special ballots, which the state legislature has authorized only through the end of 2020, do require a notary and must be returned by mail.

Confused?

“If a voter isn’t sure what to do, call (573) 224-5600. Traditional absentee ballots may be requested by fax, by email, or mail. Special mail-in ballots may be requested only through either U.S. mail or in-person.

Voter beware

A lot people have been getting direct-mail pieces saying they’re not registered to vote or encouraging them to check.

Call County Clerk Kent Sisco’s office if you are uncertain about your voting status but don’t give out your personal information to an untrusted source.

If a voter has moved from one Missouri county to another, re-registration may be done through the Missouri Secretary of State’s website. For other ways to re-register, call the county clerk.

The last day to register for the general election is October 7.

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