Jefferson City NAACP, churches to hold voter event

In hopes of attracting more young voters, the Jefferson City NAACP and local churches are hosting a voter event next week.

JC VOTE will be from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Community Park, 725 Marshall St.

It is a free Halloween event where attendees can get candy and use a photo booth, as well as voter activities including getting absentee ballots notarized, finding voters' polling places, signing up for rides to the polls, and learning about candidates and voting.

Black voters are "skeptical of the political establishment, unhappy with candidate choices," and frustrated with several issues like racism, police violence, the cost of housing, and health care and college expenses, according to a Jefferson City NAACP news release.

"The NAACP knows that if people of color and specifically Black voters participated in elections at the same rate as whites have, we would have a progressive majority," the news release states.

Voters can request absentee ballots from their local election authority by filling out the form at sos.mo.gov/CMSImages/ElectionGoVoteMissouri//2020AbsenteeBallotrequestformfillable.pdf.

The last day a voter can request an absentee ballot in person is Nov. 2. The deadline to request absentee ballots via mail has passed.

A voter's local election authority must receive the voter's absentee ballot by 7 p.m. on Election Day.

Residents can vote absentee in person at their local election authority's office.

For more information on the requirements for voting absentee in Missouri, visit newstribune.com/votingoptions.

Residents voting absentee must have their ballots notarized unless they have contracted COVID-19, are considered at risk or are in incapacity or confinement due to illness.