ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. – Two weeks out from Election Day and no-excuse absentee voting has started across Missouri. Hundreds lined up at multiple polling places across St. Louis City and County to cast their ballots.
Election officials continue to urge citizens to vote early and not wait, pointing out just how long the ballot is for this election. In fact, authorities say it’s one of the longest ballots in recent state history.
“It’s been busy all day. At this point, by midday, we’ve had close to 7,000 people,” Eric Fey, Democratic Director of Elections for St. Louis County, said.
More than 15,000 ballots were cast on the first day of no-excuse in-person absentee voting, the St. Louis County Board of Elections said.
Turnout by satellite site
Board of Elections: 1,807
UMSL Millennium Student Center: 509
Lewis and Clark Branch Library: 845
Thornhill Branch Library: 1,018
Grand Glaize Branch Library: 1,309
Clark Family Branch Library: 1,138
North County Recreation Complex: 843
Jamestown Bluffs Branch Library: 844
Mid County Branch Library: 945
Oakbend Branch Library: 1,212
Grant’s View Branch Library: 1,412
Cliff Cave Branch Library: 1,078
Daniel Boone Branch Library: 1,279
Wildwood City Hall: 1,034
More than 7,700 absentee excuse ballots were cast between Sept. 24 and Oct. 21 across the county. The board of elections has thus far received 15,729 additional mail-in ballots.
“I did not want to stand in the long lines, so I came out and voted early,” Gwendolyn Hunter said.
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“I want to sit at home and take it all in,” George Slaughter said. “I don’t want to be in the hustle and bustle that day. It’s going to be an interesting thing to watch. I don’t want to miss a second of it.”
No-excuse absentee voting runs through Nov. 4. You have to bring a valid photo ID to vote early. There are no provisional ballots like on election day. There are 14 early voting sites in the county and 8 in the city.
“The ballot is so long; it’s a record. We are urging people to use the sample ballot. Mark it, place it with you as a guide, and come vote early,” Fey said.
