ST. LOUIS — In just a few days, voters will decide who will be the next mayor of St. Louis.
Current mayor, Lyda Krewson, is not seeking reelection. The race is down to two candidates: St. Louis Treasurer Tishaura Jones and Alderwoman Cara Spencer.
The city has opened two "off-site" absentee voting locations. Eligible voters who can't cast a ballot on Election Day can go to Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church located at 4092 Blow Street or Better Family Life located at 5415 Page Boulevard.
Both locations are open weekdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. You can also cast an absentee ballot at the city's Board of Election Commissioners office located at 300 N. Tucker Boulevard. The last day to vote absentee is Monday, April 5.
The city lists the following reasons a person can vote absentee:
- Absence on Election Day
- Incapacity or confinement due to illness or disability
- Religious belief or practice
- Employment as an election authority (does not apply to campaign workers)
- Being incarcerated (provided all qualifications for voting are retained)
- Certified participant in the address confidentiality program established under RS MO Sections 589.660 - 589.681
Last November, the city saw an unprecedented number of people voting absentee due to COVID-19 concerns. However, according to the Board of Election Commissioners' website, COVID-19 concerns will not be considered a valid reason to vote absentee for the April 6 election:
“This past November, in the General Election, an unprecedented number of St. Louisans voted by absentee ballot, the great majority of whom marked the reason that allowed voters who were in an ‘at-risk category for contracting or transmitting’ COVID-19 to request an absentee ballot. For example, if the voter was over 65 years of age the voter was considered ‘at risk’ and could apply. This ‘at risk’ reason for voting absentee was created by the State Legislature last May; however, the bill in which it was contained also contained a provision that caused it to expire December 31, 2020. Therefore the ‘at-risk’ reason is no longer a viable reason for requesting an absentee ballot. Similarly, many voters voted a ‘vote by mail ballot’ last November which, unlike absentee voting, did not require a reason. However, this ‘vote by mail’ option also expired on December 31, 2020.”