Jasper County clerk urges voters to prepare ahead of Missouri primary, take advantage of early voting

With Missouri's primary election approaching, Jasper County Clerk Charlie Davis is encouraging voters to review their personalized ballots before Election Day, vote early if possible and arrive at the polls with the proper identification to help ensure a smooth voting experience.

During an interview on KZRG, Davis said many voters are confused by the county's published sample ballots because they include every ballot style used throughout Jasper County.

"There are a total of 24 different ballots in the county, but you're only going to have one," Davis said.

He said voters can use the ballot lookup tool on the Jasper County website by entering their name and address to view the ballot assigned to their precinct. Voters also can call the county clerk's office to determine their ballot type.

Davis also encouraged voters to cast ballots during Missouri's no-excuse absentee voting period, which begins two weeks before the election.

He said early voting is available at the Jasper County Courthouse in Carthage and the county courts building in Joplin. Voting early allows election workers to verify identification and registration while helping voters avoid potential Election Day lines or unforeseen emergencies.

"It's very easy to do, and I encourage people to do it because then you don't have to stand in line," Davis said.

For those voting on Election Day, Davis said polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Voters should bring a state- or federally issued photo identification, such as a Missouri driver's license, passport, military ID, veteran's ID or qualifying tribal identification. He noted Missouri law also allows certain IDs that have expired since the November 2024 general election to be accepted.

Davis urged voters to research candidates and ballot questions before arriving at the polls because election judges cannot explain constitutional amendments or advise voters on how measures could affect them.

"If you're unsure, you do not have to vote for everything on the ballot," he said, noting voters may leave contests blank while still having the remainder of their ballot counted.

Addressing election security, Davis said Missouri already meets several election integrity measures, including voter identification requirements, maintaining voter registration rolls and using voting equipment that is not connected to the internet.

He also discussed voter registration issues involving noncitizens, saying some individuals had been registered through automatic registration programs but did not cast ballots. Davis said federal law currently prohibits local election officials from requiring prospective voters to provide proof of citizenship during registration and suggested any changes would need to come from state or federal lawmakers.

Davis added that electronic poll books used in Jasper County communicate with one another in real time, allowing poll workers to detect if someone attempts to vote at more than one polling location.