ST. LOUIS — Missouri Democrats can participate in the presidential primary process this March, but it won't look like it has in the last few decades.
Missouri lawmakers in 2022 intentionally canceled the state's presidential primary as part of a broader elections bill backed by Republican Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft that also imposed photo identification requirements for voting. Though leaders of the state Republican and Democratic parties both testified in favor of reinstating a presidential primary, lawmakers this year failed to pass legislation doing so, meaning the state's delegates will be allocated through the caucus process.
Despite the state's move away from a presidential primary, the state Democratic party has implemented a primary of its own using mail-in and in-person voting options.
In-person locations have not been announced yet, but eligible voters can request a ballot be mailed to their home. The mail-in ballot request process will close on March 12. The completed ballot must be returned to the state party by March 23. To request a ballot, click here or call 855-433-8683.
In-person voting will be held on March 23 from 8 a.m. to noon. Ballots will be counted in St. Louis, and the state party will announce the results by March 28.
The state party website said voters registered by Feb. 21, 2024, with the Missouri Secretary of State’s office will be eligible to vote in the primary so long as they are not registered as a Republican.
Candidates that will appear on the ballot are Joe Biden, Dean Phillips, Stephen P Lyons, Armando Perez-Serrato, Marianne Williamson and Jason Michael Palmer. Write-in votes are not allowed, but voters can select "uncommitted."
The state Republican party will hold its caucus on March 2. Click here for more information about that process.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
