There’s an election in Missouri Tuesday. Here’s what you need to know to vote safely

Missouri will have its first major election Tuesday since early March, when coronavirus cases began to mount. City Council and school board seats are on ballots across the state, along with proposals to increase local taxes for public improvements.

This is the election originally scheduled for April 7 but postponed for safety concerns.

Here’s what you need to know:

Am I registered? You can check your registration through the Secretary of State’s website, sos.mo.gov.

What am I voting on?. All ballot information can be found through the Missouri Voter Outreach Center on the Secretary of State’s website.

Sample ballots are available at each election authority’s website. For example, in eastern Jackson County, you can find your polling place and download sample ballot through a voter information look-up tool at jcebmo.org.

Can I vote absentee? You must have one of the following excuses under Missouri law: absence from the jurisdiction where you are registered; an incapacitating illness; caring for someone with a disability; a religious belief or practice that in-person voting would violate; work as an election official, or are in a witness protection program or incarcerated.

You can cast an absentee ballot Monday at the Kansas City Election Board’s Union Station office, 30 West Pershing Road, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Jackson County residents can vote absentee at election board’s Independence office, 215 N. Liberty St., between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Can I vote absentee by mail? If you did not request a ballot be mailed to you before May 20, you cannot vote by mail. Ballots must be postmarked by Election Day.

When can I vote on Election Day? Polls are open from 6:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. If you are in line at 7 p.m. you are allowed to vote.

Where do I vote? Don’t assume your usual polling place will be where you need to go. Because of the pandemic, a number of sites are no longer in use.

The Missouri Voter Outreach Center lists polling places across the state on the Secretary of State’s website, though local election authorities have the most up-to-date information.

Kansas City will have a centrally placed polling site in each ward. A list can be found at kceb.org. A list of Jackson County polling locations are also available through the board’s website, jcebmo.org. Clay County ‘s polling sites can be found at claycoelections.com and Platte County at plattemovotes.org

If you go to a polling site outside your jurisdiction, you can vote using an electronic tablet and sanitized stylus, as long as you are registered.

How do I vote? You can vote inside the polling site as usual. Or, if you prefer, curbside voting will also be available. Each location will have workers outside in Kansas City and eastern Jackson County. You don’t need an excuse to vote curbside, nor will the election worker ask for one, authorities said.

What will it be like inside the polling place? You will be expected to maintain six feet of distance to reduce the potential spread of the novel coronavirus. Tape will be placed where you should should stand.

Lines will look longer because people will be spread out, and election authorities encourage you not to be deterred.

There will be hand sanitizer within the Kansas City area polling places and workers will wear personal protective equipment. Barriers will separate workers from voters.

Instead of passing out “I Voted” stickers, Jackson County voters will be given pens to keep. Each Kansas City voter will get their own pencil.

Do I have to wear a mask? Masks are not be required but highly recommended. Election judges are typically older than 65, which is within the virus’s at-risk population. Wearing a mask will help protect voters and workers alike.

“I would strongly encourage the voters to also think of the poll workers and those that are putting their life on the front line to also wear a mask because then you protect the other person,” said Kansas City Election Board co-director Lauri Ealom.

What should I bring? You are no longer required to bring a photo ID to cast a regular ballot. In January, the Missouri Supreme Court struck down parts of a state law that required voters to present a state-approved photo ID.

Along with a Missouri voter ID card or a driver’s license, you can bring a birth certificate, federal or state government employee ID card; global entry card; Medicaid card; Medicare card; military ID; Missouri non-driver’s license; passport; passport card; Social Security card; Missouri college ID, or Veteran’s Administration card.

You can also bring the following forms of ID if they are current and include your name and address: a bank statement, government paycheck, regular paycheck or utility bill.

Can I still vote if I don’t have any form of ID with me? You can still cast a provisional ballot if you are registered to vote. However, the vote may not be counted if the signature on the ballot does not match the signature on voter rolls kept by the election authorities.

This story was originally published June 1, 2020 at 5:00 AM.