KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Ahead of an historic election, Jackson County has processed thousands more absentee ballot applications than the last three presidential elections combined.
Corey Dillon and Tammy Brown, directors of the Jackson County Election Board, said Friday that the county has processed over 3,000 more absentee applications than it did in 2016, 2012 and 2008 combined.
By 8 a.m. on Friday, the board had processed 49,983 total absentee and mail-in applications. The deadline for requesting an absentee or mail-in ballot was Wednesday.
Dillon and Brown also said the county has 10,000 more registered voters than the previous record reached in 2008. A total of 244,454 Jackson County residents are registered to vote in the upcoming election, compared with 234,109 registered voters in 2008, when President Barack Obama defeated the late Sen. John McCain.
Jackson County voters who have requested an absentee ballot can mail it back to the Election Board or drop it off at 110 N. Liberty St. in Independence. In-person absentee voting will continue through 5 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 2, at the same location.
Those who requested a mail-in ballot, which does not require a reason as opposed to an absentee ballot, must have the envelope notarized and return the ballot through the U.S. mail for it to be counted.
All ballots in Missouri must be received by the local election office by 7 p.m. on Election Day.
This year, the Jackson County Election Board also will have special accommodations in place for people who have tested positive for COVID-19 or who are quarantining because of possible exposure to the virus.
Drive-thru voting will be available from 1-3:30 p.m. on Saturdays for absentee voters and all day on Election Day behind the board’s Absentee Office, 110 N. Liberty St. in Independence.
Those who have tested positive and need their ballots notarized also can use the special drive-thru hours on Saturdays.