You've got your coffee. You've looked at the sample ballot. Now you just need to know when you can actually walk through those doors and cast your vote. If you’re asking when do polls open in Missouri, the answer is pretty straightforward, but there are a couple of "gotchas" that can trip up even the most seasoned voter in the Show-Me State.
Basically, across every county from St. Louis to Kansas City and down to the Ozarks, polls open at 6:00 a.m. and close at 7:00 p.m. sharp.
The Golden Rule of Missouri Polling Hours
It doesn't matter if it's the August Primary or the big November General Election. The timing is uniform.
Actually, there is one rule that every Missouri voter should memorize: If you are standing in line by 7:00 p.m., you must be allowed to vote. Don’t let a long line scare you off as the sun starts to go down. As long as you’ve physically joined the queue before that 7:00 p.m. cutoff, the poll workers are legally required to keep that precinct open until you’ve had your say.
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Key Election Dates for 2026
Missouri stays busy with its election calendar. You aren't just voting once every four years. 2026 is a big year for state and local offices. Here is the breakdown of when you'll need to set your alarm for 6:00 a.m.:
- February 3, 2026: Specifically for bond elections.
- March 3, 2026: Charter cities and charter counties only.
- April 7, 2026: General Municipal Election Day.
- August 4, 2026: The State Primary Election.
- November 3, 2026: The General Election.
Registration is key. Honestly, you can't just show up on election day if you aren't in the system. For the 2026 General Election, the deadline to register is October 7, 2026. If you miss that date, you're sitting on the sidelines.
Don't Forget Your Photo ID
Missouri’s voting laws changed significantly a couple of years back. You can't just bring a utility bill or a bank statement anymore. To vote at the polls, you need a government-issued photo ID.
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What counts?
- A non-expired Missouri driver’s license.
- A non-expired Missouri non-driver’s license.
- A U.S. Passport.
- A military ID.
If your Missouri license expired after the date of the last general election, it’s still considered valid for voting. That’s a small nuance that saves a lot of people some grief. If you show up without an ID, you'll be asked to vote a provisional ballot. It's a bit of a hassle because that ballot only counts if you come back with an ID or if the election office can verify your signature against your registration record.
Two Weeks of "No-Excuse" In-Person Voting
One of the best things Missouri did recently was introduce "no-excuse" in-person absentee voting. Starting two weeks before any major election, you can head to a designated location—usually your local election authority’s office—and vote early.
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You don't need a reason. You don't need to be out of town or sick. You just walk in during their business hours (usually 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., but check with your specific County Clerk) and get it done. It’s a lifesaver for people who work 12-hour shifts on Tuesdays and can't make the standard when do polls open in Missouri window of 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Where Exactly Do You Go?
Just because you voted at the elementary school last time doesn't mean you will this time. Precincts move. Schools go under construction. Churches change their mind about hosting.
The Missouri Secretary of State, currently Jay Ashcroft, maintains a "Voter View" portal. You put in your registration info, and it tells you exactly where your polling place is located. It also shows you a sample ballot so you aren't surprised by the wording of those confusingly phrased constitutional amendments.
What Most People Get Wrong
People often think they can drop off a mail-in ballot at their regular polling place on election day. In Missouri, you generally can't just hand it to a poll worker at the gym or library. Mail-in and absentee ballots usually have to be returned to the central election office by 7:00 p.m. on election day. If you have a mail-in ballot and decide you’d rather vote in person, you can bring that unvoted ballot to your polling place, "surrender" it to the workers, and they will give you a regular precinct ballot instead.
Moving Forward With Your Vote
If you want to be fully prepared for the next trip to the polls, start by checking your current registration status on the Missouri Secretary of State website. Once you've confirmed you're registered, take a photo of your current ID to ensure it hasn't expired. If you're planning to vote on Election Day, aim for the "mid-morning lull" between 10:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. to avoid the 6:00 a.m. rush and the after-work crowd. Finally, if you need a non-driver's license for voting purposes, remember that the state provides one for free to those who don't already have a valid ID—just contact the Department of Revenue to get the process started.