KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Organizations throughout the Kansas City metro are working to ensure every voter who needs a notary has access to one.
On Friday, the Missouri Supreme Court upheld the state's notary requirement, agreeing with a lower court judge that a fear of contracting COVID-19 was not the same as being unable to vote because of illness.
Missouri is one of nine states nationwide that requires a notary to vote absentee or by mail, according to the Brennan Center for Justice.
The NAACP and the League of Women Voters sued Missouri’s secretary of state, arguing that people who wished to stay home to avoid contracting COVID-19 should be treated as voters who cannot vote in person due to “incapacity or confinement due to illness or physical disability.” The latter group of voters, under Missouri law, do not need to have their ballots notarized.
“We are glad to have absolute word from the Supreme Court that they want the notary requirement and that voters know that it’s up to them to decide if they are going to be safe on Election Day, whether they would do the absentee or mail-in ballot option,” said Becky Yockey, voter services chair for the League of Women Voters of Kansas City.
Where to get ballots notarized
The League of Women Voters of Kansas City will offer free notary services at the City Market from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. every weekend day leading up to the election.
The UPS Store in Brookside also is offering free notary services to voters who need it for their ballots.
“Everyone here is a notary," said President Eric Corp, "and since we are an approved postal substation at the UPS store, you can also mail it here too. You can come in, get it signed, get it notarized and mail it all in one location."
Curbside Notary offers free notary services at different locations, depending on the date. A list of upcoming dates and locations can be found on the Curbside Notary website.