Who may register?
- 17-1/2 years old
- Citizen of the United States
- Resident of Osage County
If convicted of a felony
You may register to vote after you have served your entire sentence, including any probation or parole.
You may not register to vote if you have been declared incapacitated by a court.
Residency Requirements
Missouri has no residency requirements to register, but you must be registered by the 4th Wednesday prior to an election in order to vote in that election.
Where to Register?
Osage County Clerk's Office, 205 E. Main Street, Linn, MO.
Office hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. (Closed Holidays)
Change of Address or Name?
When do I vote?
Click here for an election calendar.
Missouri has a consolidated election schedule. Elections may be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of the following months: February, March, April, June, August, November.
- April is the annual School and Municipal Election Day.
- August is the Primary Election Day in even numbered year.
- November is the General Election Day in even numbered years.
- All other days are unscheduled Special Election Days. The County Clerk's Office will know 10 weeks in advance if an election has been called for a particular date.
Polls are open from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on election days.
Where do I vote?
After you register to vote you will be mailed your voter identification card listing your precinct and polling place.
The list of precincts and polling places is not only listed on our website but is also listed in the local newspaper the second Wednesday before the election.
The publication will also contain a sample ballot of those candidates and/or issues to be voted on at the election.
How do I vote?
You must have an updated address on your voter registration before you go to vote.
If you have not filed a change of address by election day, you will need to come by our office before voting. Your address will need to be updated so that you know which polling place to attend. Or, you can call our office to find out where your new polling place is and they will have you sign an address transfer form and give a temporary card to take to your new polling place in order for you to vote.
Take your voter identification card with you to your polling place. If you lose your card, you may request a replacement. If you don't have your ID card, you will need to show another form of identification in order to vote.
Acceptable forms of identification include:
- Missouri Driver's License
- Missouri Identification Card
- Social Security Card
- Student Identification Card
Read the same ballot published in the newspaper or our webpage before you vote. This way you will not be surprised by anything you see on the ballot when you enter the voting booth.
Party Preference
Missouri does not register voters by political party so you will not be asked about any party affiliation when you register, but you may only receive one (1) party ballot when you vote at each Primary Election. You must request a party ballot from the election workers when you vote at a Primary Election, but you do not have to choose the same party ballot at subsequent Primaries.
Absentee Ballots
You may vote by absentee ballot if you are unable to go to the polls because of:
- temporarily absent from the County on election day.
- confinement due to illness or physical disability.
- your religious belief.
- military service.
- incarceration, but have retained voting privileges.
You may apply for an absentee ballot through the Election Division of the Osage County Clerk's Office.
- The quickest and most efficient way is to apply in person. You will immediately receive your ballot to be voted in the office.
- You may vote in person until 5 p.m. The day before an election.
- You may have your ballot mailed to your address. Call or write for an application to be sent. The deadline for receiving an application for an absentee ballot to be mailed out is 5 p.m. on the Wednesday before an election. All absentee ballots that are mailed by voters must be voted and returned to the Elections Office before the polls close on election day. You will need to sign the envelopes in the presence of a Notary Public. Persons with disabilities do not have to have ballots notarized.
Click here for an application for an absentee ballot that you can fill out, print, sign and mail to our office.
Voting Services for Elderly, Disabled and Handicapped Voters
- You may register to vote by mail or request that deputy registrars register you at home.
- Absentee Balloting in the Elections Office is an option or you may request to have your name added to the permanent absentee application list. Once on the list, you will be sent an application for each election day in the year. You will need to return a completed application for each election in which you wish to vote. Your absentee ballot will be mailed to you.
- If a voter is blind, he or she may have a person of his or her choosing accompany them to help vote their ballot. Also, a bi-partisan team of election workers may read the ballot to a voter and mark the ballot at the voter's direction.
- Voting supplies may be brought to a voter at his or her car if he or she is unable to get inside their polling place.
- Persons with disabilities do not have to have ballots notarized.
You are invited to visit our office anytime or can call us at 573-897-2139 with any
questions regarding the election process in Osage County.
