KANSAS CITY, Mo. — It's an election unlike any other.
Thousands of people in the Kansas City metro have already cast their votes in the upcoming Nov. 3 general election.
In Kansas, residents can vote early without needing a reason, but it's not the same in Missouri.
But while there's technically no early voting in Missouri, voters can still cast their ballots before Election Day, an option that's causing confusion for some.
At places like Union Station in Kansas City, voters can cast absentee ballots in-person as long as they have an reason, such as the risk of contracting COVID-19 or being out of town on Election Day.
But there are a couple other ways that people can vote that come with more rules, including absentee by mail and mail-in ballots.
"Confusing to most people because people don’t understand the difference (between) absentee and mail-ins," said Shawn Kieffer, Republican Director of Kansas City, Missouri, Election Board.
If a voter requested a mail-in ballot, they cannot bring it in to the election office to be counted. Instead, those voters must mail the ballot through the U.S. Postal Service. Those ballots must be received by 7 p.m. on Election Day; otherwise, the ballot will not be counted.
In addition, mail-in voters in Missouri need to have their envelope notarized, unless they quality under one of several categories. Examples of those categories including being over the age of 65 or being confined due to an illness. Those voters do not need to have their ballot notarized.
"People try to actually hand in their mail-in ballots and it's one thing they can’t do," Kieffer said. "We refuse them at that point. It has to come to us through the mail system."
However, Kansas City voters can bring in their mail-in ballots on Election Day to Union Station to surrender the ballot and vote in-person.
If voters have an absentee mail-in ballot that was mailed to them, they can mail it back to the election board or drop it off at the election commission office.
What's also confusing to some voters is the fact that the two mail-in ballots look alike.
"And that’s another thing, it’s how you requested the ballot when you first made that request, so when you sent that application in requesting your ballot if you marked mail-in, then you got a mail-in ballot," said Tiffany Francis, Democratic Director for the Clay County Election Board.
Election officials urge voters to mail in their ballots at least a week before the election to make sure it's received on time.
In Kansas City, there are a few other absentee in-person locations other than Union Station.A list of those locations can be found on the election board's website.
Here are some helpful links if you have more questions:
IN MISSOURI:
Voters who live in Kansas City need to visit www.kceb.org.
Voters who live in Jackson County (outside of Kansas City) should visit https://jcebmo.org/.
Voters who live in Clay County should visit www.claycoelections.com/.
Voters who live in Platte County should visit www.plattemovotes.org/.
IN KANSAS:
Voters who live in Johnson County should visit https://jocoelection.org/.
Voters who live in Wyandotte County should visit www.wycokck.org/Election.aspx.
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