Government, Politics & Issues

Early voting around St. Louis region exceeds expectations

St. Louis Public Radio | By Abby Llorico

Published October 28, 2024 at 5:00 AM CDT

St. Louis-area residents take to the polls during no-excuse absentee voting on Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, at the St. Louis Public Library’s Buder Branch in St. Louis Hills. — Voters fill out their ballots during no excuse absentee voting on Wednesday at the St. Louis Public Library’s Buder Branch in St. Louis Hills.

Missouri voters are answering the call to cast their ballots ahead of the Nov. 5 election, during the state’s no excuse in-person absentee voting period.

Election authorities report that since Tuesday, 78,493 residents in St. Louis County, 18,052 in St. Louis and 20,619 in St. Charles County voted early in person.

St. Charles County Director of Elections Kurt Bahr said early voting numbers have far exceeded predictions.

“Five days of no excuse [voting] has eclipsed four weeks of in-person and by-mail absentee voting combined,” he said. “2020 was not this heavy per day, 2022 was much lower.”

Precincts opened select locations last week for registered voters to cast a ballot early. People do not need to disclose why they’re opting to vote ahead of Election Day, but election authorities have said the number of questions on the ballot might be reason enough.

“It's double-sided, so two pages,” said Dana Isom. The St. Louis Dogtown voter said the questions about judges in particular could take some time. “But I did my research so I knew [how] I was voting.”

Cathie Weatherspoon, 70, of Compton Heights, after casting her ballot during no-excuse absentee voting on Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, outside the St. Louis Public Library’s Buder Branch in St. Louis Hills. — Cathie Weatherspoon, 70, of Compton Heights, smiles after casting her ballot during no excuse absentee voting last week outside the St. Louis Public Library’s Buder Branch.

Election officials are encouraging voters to be familiar with the questions and candidates and consider filling out a sample ballot ahead of time to help expedite the process.

“If a voter waits until they walk in the polling place to actually look at it and try and vote their ballot, it's going to take them a long time,” said St. Louis Republican Elections Director Gary Stoff at a press conference last week.

During the first week of the early voting period, lines often matched the ballots. Voters reported wait times of 30 minutes to an hour, though they otherwise gave positive feedback about the process.

St. Louis Fox Park resident Gretchen Kliewer said it took about a half-hour to vote early at Schlafly Library on Friday morning.

“I think it's a great way to take all the time that you need to get it done when you want, and you don't have to wait in as long lines as Election Day,” said Kliewer, who prepared by filling out a sample ballot.

Kliewer’s friend and neighbor SJ Creek came along to vote early but is opting to wait until Election Day to cast a ballot.

“I'm an extrovert, so I love going out on Election Day proper,” said Creek. “I get to see all my neighbors. It's like a giant reunion.”

Prior to 2022, Missourians needed to provide an excuse to vote ahead of Election Day – such as being out of town. But this was hard to verify, and election officials from both parties criticized that requirement. Now registered voters only need to show identification to vote through Nov. 4.

St. Louis Democratic Elections Director Ben Borgmeyer said his office is planning to release an app with more up-to-date wait times, so voters can select a polling place where crowds are thinner.

“At this point, I would project between 40 and 50 thousand [early voters],” said Borgmeyer, with more people casting a ballot early as the week goes on.

St. Louis Central West End resident Michael Valente said early voting eliminated the worry of even longer lines on Election Day.

“It was so quick and so easy,” he said.

His wife, Maureen, agrees — adding that there’s a sense of relief that comes with having cast her ballot already.

“It’s really important to get my vote in,” she said. “I didn't want to wait till the last minute, especially this year. I feel there's a lot at stake.”

Election officials in St. Louis and St. Charles counties said they expect about 75% voter turnout by the end of Nov. 5. Officials in the city of St. Louis expect 60% to 65% turnout.