KANSAS CITY, Mo. — With the clock counting down until Missouri's presidential primary election, the democratic presidential primary field is getting narrower. Three candidates have suspended their presidential campaigns since South Carolina's primary on Saturday.
While Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar have dropped out of the race, those in Missouri who might have voted absentee for a candidate no longer in a race cannot change their ballot.
"There is nothing we can do about it because we know you voted, but we don't know how you voted," said Corey Dillon, democratic director for the Jackson County Election Board.
Ballots in Missouri are considered "secret," which means there is no identifying information on ballots. Consequently, voters cannot spoil their vote and change their ballots like they can in other states, such as Michigan.
"The ballot that you cast is absolutely non-identifiable," Dillon said.
Missouri's ballots include every candidate's name who certified for the election, even the candidates who have since dropped out of the race.
A majority of voters in Missouri are not eligible to vote by absentee ballot unless they meet specific criteria, such as being out of town on Election Day. Those who qualify can vote absentee until the Monday before the election. For more information, visit the Jackson County Election Board website.
