Howard County, Missouri Elections

Accessible Voting

It is your right to vote privately and independently. Please call the Howard County Clerk’s office at (660) 248-2284 with questions about accessible voting in Howard County, Missouri.

Voting absentee by mail

Voting absentee by mail gives all registered voters in Howard County the opportunity to vote without having to travel to a voting location.

Permanent absentee voting is an option for people with disabilities.

Learn more about the voting absentee by mail process in Howard County.

Accessible voting locations

Voting locations must be made accessible for all people, regardless of ability. Under Missouri and Federal law, all voters must be given the same opportunity for access and participation in the voting process.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protects people with disabilities from receiving unequal treatment within state and local government services, programs, and activities (ADA, Title II). This law protects your right to vote by making sure that voters with disabilities have access to:

  • Accessible parking
  • An accessible route to the entrance
  • An accessible entrance
  • An accessible route to the voting area
  • Voting procedures
  • Voting machines

The Help America Vote Act (HAVA) protects the right of people with disabilities to vote by making sure that:

  • Voting locations are easy to get to and to use
  • People who are blind or have problems seeing get the help they need
  • Voting is private and personal
  • Each polling location has an accessible voting machine

Learn more about the voting locations in Howard County.

Accessible voting machines

Every voting location is required to have a voting machine that is ADA compliant. These machines include features like audio ballots, large print/zoom features, and height and tilt adjustments on the screens. Please let the election workers know if you have questions or need assistance with the voting machine.

Casting your ballot

Instructions for marking and casting your ballot are posted in each voting location. If you have any questions about how to mark or cast your ballot, or if you have incorrectly marked a ballot, contact an election worker for instructions.

Assistance at the voting location

If you need assistance, you may bring someone with you to help you vote, or you may ask for assistance from the election workers. You may ask anyone to help you vote except for the following people:

  • Your employer
  • An agent of your employer
  • An agent of your union

You may also get help in marking your ballot from trained election workers. Whoever helps you vote cannot tell you how to mark your ballot or provide information to others about how you voted.

Curbside voting

If you are unable to enter the voting place, you may vote curbside. Trained election workers will bring a ballot to you. You may sit in your car and vote, or you may vote at the door of the building.

Signing election documents

If you are unable to sign your own name and have no other legal mark, make an “X,” if possible, on the signature line.

If you are unable to make an “X,” you must indicate in some manner to the person assisting you that you want to sign your name. The person helping you must sign the election form and attest that you indicated that you want to sign the election form.

Using a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf

The Missouri Secretary of State’s Office provides a toll free number for persons with hearing impairments who have access to a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD). TDD users may call 1-800-669-8683 to obtain information on polling places, absentee balloting, voter registration, and other election related services available in their local jurisdictions and from the State of Missouri.tate of [Insert: State].

Howard County Notice of Accessibility

Further notice is given that, when a polling place has limited accessibility, a voter who is elderly or has a disability may be provided an alternate means of casting a ballot. Such means may include:

  • Curbside voting
  • Assisted voting
  • Voting absentee by mail

A voter may apply for an absentee ballot in person or by mail or may have a relative or guardian apply in person on his or her behalf. If a voter has a permanent disability, they are not required to have the signature notarized. In addition, voters requiring assistance may be assisted by a person of the voter’s choice.

For more information on registration and voting in Howard County, contact the Howard County Clerk’s office by telephone at (660) 248-2284 or by mail at:

Howard County
One Courthouse Square
Fayette, MO 65248