Frequently Asked Questions

See the Jefferson County, State, and Federal Officials page for a listing of your elected officials.

Elections are held:

• The first Tuesday after the first Monday in April of every year
• The first Tuesday after the first Monday in August of even-numbered years
• The first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of even-numbered years

Other dates are as ordered by a circuit court or set forth in Missouri State Statutes.

April Elections

April is the General Municipal Election that contains issues related to incorporated cities, fire districts, school boards, college boards, water districts, ambulance boards, special road districts, Jefferson County Health Department, Jefferson County 911 and most local tax issues.

August Elections

In even numbered years, August is the state primary when we select the nominees of each political party to be represented in the November election. On the ballot will be races such as U.S. Senator, U.S. Representative, Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, State Treasurer, State Senate, State Representative, Circuit and Associate Judge and all County offices. Voters must select a party ballot in this election. A voter may not vote for a candidate of one party and a candidate of another party. A voter will receive a ballot that contains the candidates of only one political party.

November Elections

In even numbered years,  November is the General Election. Candidates of all parties will appear on a voter’s ballot. Voters may vote for whom ever they choose. Voters do not have to declare a political party to the election judges.

Where you file depends on what political office you wish to be a candidate for. See the Where Do I File page for complete information.

For a list of candidates who will appear on the ballot this election, see the Candidates Filing  (PDF) page. The list is in the order in which the candidates will appear on the ballot. Candidates who will not appear on the ballot in this election are not included.

You may also contact our office to obtain these names by calling 636-797-5486.

View a listing and overview of political signs ordinances within Jefferson County (PDF).

A voter must vote at the poll to which he has been assigned. If a voter has moved within Jefferson County, he may change his address at any time, including the day of the election. However, if a voter has moved within Jefferson County and has not updated his voting information before the day of the election, then the voter may be instructed to travel to the new poll location in order to cast a ballot. Missouri law requires a voter to vote at a poll based on their current address, not the old address.

If you are new to Jefferson County, Missouri, you must have registered to vote in Jefferson County before the 4th Wednesday before the election. If you have failed to do so you may or may not be entitled to a provisional ballot. (If a voter moves from one Missouri county to another Missouri county they MUST re-register to vote in the new county.)

• Find Your Polling Location
• Form to Change/or Update Your Address (PDF)

Maps

• Congressional for City of Festus and Crystal City residents (PDF)
• Congressional (PDF), State Senate (PDF), State Representative (PDF)
• County Council Districts 1 (PDF)
• County Council Districts 2 (PDF)
• County Council Districts 3 (PDF)
• County Council Districts 4 (PDF)
• County Council Districts 5 (PDF)
• County Council Districts 6 (PDF)
• County Council Districts 7 (PDF)
• Precinct Map (PDF)

The answer depends on you. If we have your correct/current address and name on file with our office, then the wait time will be minimal. If you have failed to keep this information current with us then you will be directed to the Help Desk where the election office will be contacted in order to resolve the problem. Voters who are sent to the Help Desk should expect to wait.

Expected wait times (these are our customer service goals):

• March Presidential Primary: less than 15 minutes
• April General Municipal: no wait
• August State Primary: less than 15 minutes
• November Presidential: less than 30 minutes

The polls throughout Missouri open promptly at 6 am and close precisely at 7 pm. All voters standing in line at 7 pm will be allowed to cast a ballot.

Unfortunately no, our office is not equipped to provide transportation for voters. We suggest you contact one of the local political parties or candidates.

The deadline to register to vote is the 4th Wednesday preceding any election. If you are unsure of your registration status, please feel free to contact us at 636-797-5486, or check online.

See our Registration Sites page to find voter registration locations.

According to Missouri law, a voter must cast his ballot from his current address at his new polling location in Jefferson County. The voter must re-register at their current address before election day in order to vote at the poll. Otherwise, the voter must come in person to the County Clerk's Office to update their address and vote on election day.

Register to vote, or to find out if you’re registered in Jefferson County, Missouri. Don’t delay, register today!

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Yes, a voter who has moved after the deadline may cast a ballot. However, the voter must come to the County Clerk’s office to do so. The type of ballot the voter will be voting on is only located in the Clerk’s office. Please do not go to the polls as the election judges will contact the Clerk’s office and ultimately send the voter to the Clerk’s office in Hillsboro, Missouri on election day.

All registrations must be processed in 7 days. All prospective registrants should have received confirmation from us regarding their application. Confirmation will come in the form of a letter or a post card. If a voter does not receive confirmation that he is registered to vote from this office, contact us immediately at 636-797-5486 or check online.

Yes, a voter may vote without presenting their Voter Identification Card. This card is just one of many acceptable forms of identification that a voter may present to the election judge. If a card is lost, contact us for a new replacement card at 636-797-5486.

A voter should update this information as soon as possible. Please see the Change of Address / Name page and complete a new voter registration application

Yes. View which forms of voter identification (PDF) are accepted.

Utilizing this method allows all Jefferson county voters the opportunity to vote in the comfort of their home without traveling to a voting location. Missouri requires a reason to vote absentee and voters with disabilities qualify under state law.

See the Request for Absentee Ballot page for full information.

All locations must be made accessible for all voters, regardless of ability. Under Missouri and federal law, all voters must be given the same opportunity for access and participation.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) protects people with disabilities from receiving unequal treatment within state and local government services, programs and activities.

• Access to instructions on voting procedures and equipment
• An accessible entrance
• Accessible parking
• An accessible route to the entrance
• An accessible route to the voting area

Every voting location has an ADA accessible voting system for individuals with disabilities.

This system allows for accessible voting through an optional tethered Audio-Tactile Interface (ATI), which is a “game controller” style console that includes tactile navigation buttons. The ATI can also support headphones for voters who are blind or visually impaired. 

Please let the poll workers know if you have questions or need assistance utilizing the machines.

Instructions for marking and casting your ballot are posted at each voting location. Do not hesitate to ask a poll worker for instructions or assistance.

If you need assistance, Missouri law allows you to ask for help from anyone, including a poll worker, friend, neighbor or family member.

If you are unable to sign your name, make an ’X’ if possible on the signature line.

If you are unable to enter the voting location, you may vote curbside. Poll workers will bring all the necessary paperwork and the ballot to your vehicle. You may sit in your car and vote. The ballot will be placed in a secrecy folder and the placed into the ballot box by the poll workers.

Further notice is given that, where a regular polling place has limited accessibility, voters may be provided an alternate means of casting his ballot that include:

• Absentee voting
• Assisted voting
• Curbside voting
• Reassignment to an accessible polling location
• Voting at the central election office

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 800-669-8683 to obtain election information.

In order to vote, an individual must make sure that they are in fact a registered voter. The voter must then go to the assigned polling location. The County Clerk’s office will send out a courtesy reminder card with the polling location and the date of the election immediately preceding any election.

Upon arrival at the proper polling location, an election judge will ask the voter to present a form of identification as required per Missouri law. Chapter 115.427 requires only one of the following:

• ID issued by the federal government, or the state of Missouri
• Driver’s license or state identification card

Once a voter has shown the proper form of identification, the voter will be asked to verify that the address we have on file is correct/current in the precinct roster. The voter will indicate that the information is correct by signing his/her name.

In Jefferson County, Missouri, there are two ways a voter may cast his ballot at the polling location:

• Most voters will choose the paper option. Voters will use a marker to ’color in’ the target by the name of the candidate the voter wishes to vote for. The voter will then place the ballot into the optical scan machine located on the top of the black ballot box. (much like a dollar bill inserted into a soda machine) Voters may also choose to vote on the Freedom Vote (Ballot Marker).
• Voters will select their choices on the Freedom Vote touchscreen, print their ballot and then place the ballot into the scanner on top of the ballot box.

A voter may receive assistance from any person he chooses. A voter may bring another person with him to read or mark the ballot. A voter who does not bring a person to assist him is entitled to receive help from our election judges. The judges have been instructed to help a voter in the following manner:

• One Republican judge and one Democratic judge will assist each voter to ensure fairness.

All voters have the opportunity to vote a correct ballot. If a mistake is made by the voter at the poll, the voter should notify the election judges immediately. The judge will take the original ballot and spoil the ballot. The judge will then hand the voter a new ballot. In Missouri. voters have a ’Second Chance Voting’ opportunity.

Note: If the voter has already placed the ballot into the black ballot box and then approaches the election judges about a possible error on his ballot or change of mind, the judges are not allowed to retrieve the ballot from the box per Missouri law. Therefore, all voters are encouraged to inspect their ballot carefully before casting the ballot.

If a voter has received an absentee ballot and makes a mistake, the voter should contact our office immediately. 636-797-5486

Absentee voting begins on the 6th Tuesday prior to the election.

Any voter who may be out of town, away at school or incapacitated due to illness and, therefore, will not be able to vote at the poll on election day, is invited to cast an absentee ballot.

View and download an Absentee Ballot Application Form (PDF).

Missouri does not have "Early Voting" but does have "No Excuse Absentee Voting". No Excuse Absentee Voting begins two weeks prior to an election and can only be done in person in the office of the County Clerk/Election Authority's Office in Hillsboro or at a satellite location, if available.

Missouri now has two (2) ways to vote prior to Election Day. The first option is absentee voting with an excuse that begins 6 weeks prior to Election Day and can be done in-person or via mail.  The second option is no-excuse absentee voting and can only be done in-person.

Jefferson County residents who will not be able to go to their polling place on election day may vote absentee beginning six weeks prior to an election. Voters may request absentee with excuse ballots from the County Clerk/Election Authority in person, by email or by fax. A parent or adult child of a registered voter may complete an absentee ballot application on behalf of the voter who wishes to vote absentee.

Absentee ballot applications must be sent to this office by the deadline to be valid. This deadline is the 2nd Wednesday before the election.

Absentee voting takes place in the County Clerk’s office only, located at:
729 Maple Street
Suite G17
Hillsboro, MO 63050

The deadline to vote absentee in person is the Monday before the election on Tuesday. The deadline to request that an absentee ballot be sent to you is the 2nd Wednesday before the Tuesday election. (This allows the post office time to deliver the ballot to you and for you to send the ballot back to us.)

This is an absentee voting myth!

Under Missouri law, all ballots, including those cast at the poll and those cast by absentee are counted. It does not matter if the election is close or not, all absentee ballots are counted in every election. Voters sometimes believe that absentee ballots are only counted if they might determine the outcome.

Again, all ballots are counted in every election.

The Jefferson County Clerk’s office maintains an ’permanent list’ of absentee voters. If a voter wishes to be placed on the permanent absentee list, the voter should send us a written request that includes: full name, address, address where ballot is to be sent and signature and most importantly the reason the voter wishes to be placed on the list.

View and download an Permanent Absentee Request Application (PDF).

Please use a black/blue ink pen and "color-in" the circle in front of the name of the candidate for whom you want to vote. Be careful to stay inside the circle. Place the ballot into the return envelope that we have provided and send the absentee ballot back to us immediately. Any ballot that is received after 7 pm on election day shall not be counted according to Missouri law.

Do not take your absentee ballot to the poll on Election Day!

Please contact us immediately if you have not received your ballot. Missouri law requires that we process each request within 3 business days of receipt of the request. The deadline to request an absentee ballot is the 2nd Wednesday prior to the election.

Common mistakes:

• Did you provide your P.O. Box?
• School address?
• Was the request made after the deadline?

Yes, Missouri law allows a parent to request an absentee ballot. Relatives within the second degree (spouse, parent, child, grandparent, brother, sister, grandchild, mother-in-law, father-in-law, daughter-in-law, or son-in-law) may complete an absentee ballot application, in-person, on behalf of the voter who wishes to vote absentee. Our office will then mail a ballot to the voter. No family member can ’pickup’ or ’leave’ our office with another person’s ballot.

View and download an Absentee Ballot Application (PDF).

Any voter who will be out of town, away at college or absent on election day must have his ballot envelope notarized. A notary will not watch a voter color-in the circles on his/her ballot. A notary will only ’witness’ the voter’s signature. Any envelope that is required to be notarized, but is not notarized, will not be opened and, in accordance with Missouri law, will not be counted. Any voter who has requested and received an absentee ballot for health reasons is not required to have the ballot envelope notarized.

Note: Regardless of the notary requirement, all ballot envelopes must contain the signature of the voter. Failure to include the signature on the envelope will result in the ballot inside the envelope not being counted.

A voter should never sign his/her name on the ballot itself or allow anyone else to write on the ballot.

A voter should contact our office immediately to make the necessary change. See the Secretary of State website for the form a voter should use if he moves, marries or changes his name. 

No, you are not considered a registered voter in Jefferson County, Missouri if you have moved here but not yet completed a voter registration application. If a voter has moved from one county to another county, the voter is required by Missouri law to complete a new voter registration form and send it to the new county.

Primary Elections

Missouri has an August statewide primary election in each even-numbered year. The primary is an election contest between members of the same political party. For example, several candidates of the same political party may file for the position of County Treasurer. The August election will determine which candidate will face the candidate for that same position from the opposing political party in the November general election.

No, in August, a voter must choose a political party or vote a ballot that contains only non-partisan issues. A voter’s ballot will only contain the candidates of the same political party the voter has chosen. In November, candidates of all parties will appear on a voter’s ballot. A voter is free to select a candidate from either party at the November General Election.

Voters are no longer allowed to vote for all candidates of one political party by "coloring-in" one single circle at the top of the ballot. In order to vote for all candidates of one political party in November, a voter must "color-in" the circle in front of the name of each candidate of the voter’s choice.

Republican Chairwoman

Dan Shaul
1539 Arlington Heights Way
Imperial MO 63052
Phone: 314-378-4363

Democratic Chairwoman

Jessica Shepherd
1186 Liberty Crossing
Herculaneum MO 63048
Phone: 314-808-3410

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On election night we will be posting the results on our website as quickly as the votes from a precinct are delivered to our office by the election judges. Typically, the first results are announced between 8-8:30 pm and the final results are, often times, announced before 10:30 pm. The results can be found on the Election Results page.

As a voter inserts his ballot into the optical scanner (ballot box) located at the polling location, the scanner ’tabulates’ the vote for each candidate. This information is retained on a media stick within the optical scanner.

Upon the close of the polls, the memory stick from each scanner and all ballots are sealed and promptly returned to the County Clerk’s office. The data from the memory stick is downloaded onto our election software. The election summary is then uploaded onto a flash drive and then downloaded on our website. Beginning on the Thursday after the election, the paper ballots are hand counted by the ’Verification Board’ and compared to the results reported on election night. After the board completes its work, all election results are then considered ’Official’.

Note: No ballots are counted in the County Clerk’s office on election night. Additionally, no staff member of the County Clerk’s office has any statutory role in the ’counting’ of ballots. This duty is performed by Election Judges appointed by the two political parties per Missouri law. As always, citizens are welcome to observe the return of election materials on election night.

The new information line for Jefferson County Government is 636-797-5555.

For all questions regarding traffic tickets, jury duty, divorces, or child support please contact the Circuit Clerk’s Office at 636-797-5443.

• Jefferson County Clerk
  729 Maple Street
  P.O. Box 100
  Hillsboro, MO 63050
• Phone: 636-797-5486
• Fax: 636-797-5360

County Clerk

The County Clerk is the administrative office to the County Council. Duties include:

• Serving as Secretary to the Board of Equalization
• Recording Secretary to the County Council
• Issuing liquor licenses for picnics and caterers
• Issuing solid waste hauler licenses
• Issuing Notary Public licenses
• All function of accounts payable

The County Clerk is also the Director of Elections

Circuit Clerk

The Circuit Clerk is the administrative officer to the 23rd Judicial Circuit Court, located in the Jefferson County Courthouse. The Circuit Clerk is responsible for all jury duty, child support issues and state issued traffic tickets (State Trooper). All questions regarding court or legal issues should be directed to the Office of the Circuit Clerk.

• Contact the Circuit Clerk at 636-797-5443.
• The Prosecuting Attorney’s office may be contacted by calling 636-797-5321.
• The Office of the Public Defender may be contacted by calling 636-797-5641.

County-issued traffic tickets are issued by a Sheriff’s Deputy and are to be paid at the Municipal Court, located in the Justice Center on the 3rd Floor in Hillsboro, Missouri. The telephone number is 636-797-6265.

State-issued traffic tickets are issued by the Missouri Highway Patrol are to be paid in the Jefferson County Courthouse located at 300 Main Street in Hillsboro. The telephone number is 636-797-5443.

Personal property and real estate taxes are to be paid at the office of the Collector of Revenue, located at the Administration Center:
729 Maple Street
Suite G36
Hillsboro, MO 63050

The telephone number is 636-797-5406.

The County Council Meetings are the 2^nd Monday and the 4^th Monday of each month at 6:30pm, unless otherwise posted. 

The County Council meets:
Administration Center
729 Maple Street
Assembly Room
Hillsboro, MO 63050

The County Clerk is the custodian of records for the County Council. The Council has its own staff that keeps the minutes of its meetings. The County Executive may be contacted by calling the Administration Center at 636-797-5400. The County Council may be reached at 636-797-5517.

The County Clerk is the official custodian of all County records, including those of the County Council. All Council minutes are posted on this website. All records are available for review by the public. Copies will be made available upon request for 10 cents per page.

See the Notaries page for information regarding how to become a Notary Public.

All applications are processed by the Missouri Secretary of State’s office in Jefferson City.

Two weeks is normally required for the application to be processed and the confirmation letter mailed to the applicant. The commission is sent to the County Clerk’s Office in Hillsboro.

Please contact the County Clerk’s office to verify receipt of the commission. A Notary Public must be sworn in at the County Clerk’s office to receive the commission.

A Notary Public must be sworn in the county of the applicant’s residence.

Notaries are not renewable. All notaries must re-apply every 4 years.

The fee is $25 made payable to the State Director of Revenue. A notary surety bond may be acquired through any insurance company and the cost is approximately $50 for the 4-year bond. The journal and notary seal may be acquired through any office supply store at a cost of approximately $150. The County Clerk’s office fee, for recording the notary commission and administering the oath of office, is $3.

Once an application has been processed and the commission issued by the Secretary of State’s office, the applicant has 60 days to appear and qualify. A failure to appear by the applicant results in the return of the notary commission to the Secretary of State’s office. (486.240 Revised Statutes of Missouri)

No, all documents must be signed in the County Clerk’s office in front of a deputy clerk.

Please check that the date of commission and the county of residence is correct.

The date of commission should be indicated on the bond. If the space on the bond is ’blank’, where the beginning date of the commission should be, please fill in the proper beginning date. If the county of residence is blank, leave it ’blank’ and the Deputy Clerk in the County Clerk’s office will fill-in the blank space. If either is incorrect, the applicant will need to contact the insurance company to obtain a ’rider’ for the corrections to the Notary Surety Bond.

The date of commission is the day that the Secretary of State’s Office processes the application.

The bond will be sent to the applicant, not the Department of the County Clerk.

729 Maple Street
Hillsboro, MO 63050

A notary may start his/her official duties after being sworn-in and receiving their notary seal.

Any person who seeks to obtain a liquor license for a location in an incorporated area of Jefferson County must first contact the municipality. Any person who seeks to obtain a liquor license for a location in the unincorporated area of Jefferson County may apply directly to the Missouri Department of Public Safety - Division of Liquor Control by calling 314-416-6280.

Yes, any business or organization that obtains a state liquor license of any kind (i.e. picnic, caterer) is required to apply and acquire a County liquor license from the County Clerk’s office.

The day a business or organization applies for a County liquor license, they will receive a paid receipt that will be valid for 30 days from the date written on the receipt by the County Clerk’s office. The original license will be mailed within 7 to 10 business days. Please contact our office if you do not receive your license within this time frame.

A business or organization located in an incorporated city/municipality must first obtain their state and city liquor license. Those located in the unincorporated areas of Jefferson County must only obtain a state liquor license before applying for a County liquor license. Then, bring the original license(s) to the County Clerk’s office to apply for a license that is valid for 30 days.

The Jefferson County Council adopted a new ordinance that requires any applicant for a county liquor license to be current on his taxes. Proof of taxes paid or no taxes owed will be required to obtain the liquor license.

Jefferson County charges $3 more than the fee charged by the state for a liquor license. If the state charged you $400, then the total amount charged by Jefferson County will be $403.

Contact the State of Missouri, Department of Revenue at 314-416-6280 for an answer to this question.

Liquor licenses in Missouri are valid from July 1 of the current year to June 30 of the next year.

No, liquor licenses are pro-rated based when the State of Missouri issued the license and the expiration date of the license.

No, renewals are mailed at the beginning of April each year and may be signed and returned to the County Clerk’s office with the amount owed. Please call 636-797-5039, if you have any questions.

Typically, this license is used by organizations that is holding an event at a temporary ’stand’ outdoors. The state of Missouri will issue a picnic license that is valid for 7 days. The organization is also required to obtain a County picnic license.

If the State of Missouri requires a liquor license, Jefferson County requires it as well.

A picnic license from the State is $25 for a temporary stand. A picnic license issued from Jefferson County is $25 per temporary stand, plus a $3 County Revenue Fee.

The Board of Equalization consists of 3 members who are appointed to hear appeals regarding the real estate and personal property assessments of taxpayers.

The Board meets, as scheduled, to hear appeals from the first Monday in July to the fourth Saturday in August of every year. The Board meets in the Assembly Room located in the Administration Building at:
729 Maple Street
Hillsboro, MO 63050

Taxpayers are encouraged to contact the Department of the County Assessor at 636-797-5466 for real estate and 636-797-5343 for personal property. If the taxpayer is unable to reach an agreement with Assessor’s office, and wishes to appear before the Board of Equalization, the taxpayer should contact the County Clerk’s office to obtain the necessary appeal forms. Five copies of the forms are required to be returned to the County Clerk’s office by the taxpayer.

Contact our office at 636-797-5039.

The form is the same, however if the taxpayer wishes to appeal both real estate and personal property taxes, the taxpayer must fill out a separate form for each appeal.

All appeals are due on or before the 3rd Monday in June. However, the Board of Equalization has extended this deadline to the second Monday in July. All appeals must be postmarked by 5 pm on that day to comply with Revised Statutes of Missouri Section 137.385.

Once all of the appeal forms have been received, the County Clerk’s office will notify the taxpayer by letter as to the date and time of the appeal.

Dates and times are not negotiable.

Typically, most appeal hearings last anywhere from 10 to 20 minutes. Taxpayers will be given ample time to present their case. The Board may, or may not, ask questions of the taxpayer.

The taxpayer will be notified of the Board’s decision, via certified mail, within 5 business days following the hearing.

Any taxpayer who disagrees with the decision of the Board of Equalization may appeal directly to the Missouri State Tax Commission. Information on how to appeal, as well as the website address, will be included in the decision letter. 

Missouri State Tax Commission
P.O. Box 146
Jefferson City, MO 65102
Phone: 573-751-1715

Updated October 2015: Taxpayers are welcome to attend any Board meeting.  Any correspondence from the taxpayer to the Board must be done through the Secretary of the Board of Equalization.  It is inappropriate for any taxpayer to contact the members of the Board outside of an official Board meeting.