On April 8, Columbians will vote on who is in charge of the city and the public schools.
In this upcoming election, the next Columbia mayor will be chosen. People will also vote on Columbia City Council representatives and Columbia Public School board members.
Two City Council seats — Ward 3 and Ward 4 — will be on the ballot. Two of the seven CPS board seats are also on the ballot.
While registration to vote in the April election needs to take place by March 12, absentee voting begins at the end of February. Here’s what you need to know about registering to vote, absentee voting and other dates for the general municipal election.
How do I know if I’m registered to vote?
Check your voter registration online at the Missouri Secretary of State’s website: voteroutreach.sos.mo.gov/portal.
How can I register to vote?
You can request a voter application by mail, register in person, register online, or print out and mail in your registration, according to the SOS website.
If you request an application by mail, you will receive a blank application in three to five days.
In order to register to vote, you must be 17 1/2 years old, a U.S. citizen and a Missouri resident.
March 12 is the last day to register to vote for the April general municipal election. Mail-in voter registration packets must be postmarked by this date.
More: Candidates finalized for Columbia school board. Here’s who filed
What to know about absentee voting
Absentee ballots may be voted on from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday from Feb. 25 through April 7 at the Boone County Government Center, 801 E. Walnut, Room 236, Columbia, MO 65201. When voting an absentee ballot in person, you must show a valid photo ID.
If you are requesting a ballot by mail, you must send in a handwritten letter or the fillable form on the Boone County Clerk’s site, https://www.showmeboone.com/clerk/elections/. Absentee ballot by mail requests must be received by the clerk’s office no later than 5 p.m. on March 26.
Mailed ballots must be voted, notarized, returned by mail and received in the clerk’s office before 7 p.m. April 8.
If you have questions about absentee voting, call the clerk’s office at (573) 886-4375 or email absentee@boonecountymo.gov.
Who can request an absentee ballot?
According to the Secretary of State, when a voter requests an absentee ballot, they must list one of the following reasons:
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Absence on Election Day from the jurisdiction of the election authority in which such voter is registered to vote;
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Incapacity or confinement due to illness or physical disability on election day, which includes caretakers who are primarily responsible for someone and reside at the same address;
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Religious belief or practice;
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Employment as an election authority or by an election authority at a location on than your polling place, a first responder, a health care worker or a member of law enforcement;
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Incarceration if all other qualifications for voting are retained;
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Certified participation in the address confidentiality program established under sections 589.660 to 589.681 because of safety concerns.
From March 25 to April 7, voters can cast an absentee ballot in person without providing a reason as to why they need an absentee ballot.
Dates to know for general municipal election
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March 12: This is the last day to register to vote for the April general municipal election. Mail-in voter registration packets must be postmarked by this date.
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March 25: No excuse absentee voting in-person begins.
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March 26: Requests for mail-in ballots must be received before 5 p.m. on this date.
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April 7: Those wishing to vote absentee in-person prior to the election must do so before 5 p.m. on this date.
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April 8: The general election will be held on this day. Mail-in absentee ballots must be received by the clerk’s office by 7 p.m. on this date.
Those wishing to view the full election calendar may do so on the Missouri Secretary of State’s website, which also contains resources for voter registration, absentee voting, and locating local election authorities and polling places.
This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: What to know to vote in Columbia’s April 2025 election