Polls open today for Presidential primary election

Missouri voters return to the polls today, to vote for their choices in the 2020 Presidential Preferential Primary elections.

While much of the focus is centered on the intense Democratic primary, Missouri voters can choose to cast a ballot for the Republican, Libertarian, Green or Constitution party nominee.

President Donald Trump, Bob Ely, Bill Weld, John Walsh and Matthew John Matern are on the Republican party ballot. More than 20 contenders are on the Democratic party ballot, but almost all of the candidates have dropped out of the race. Most of the attention in the race will be focused on Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders. Jacob Hornberger is the sole candidate for the Libertarian Party. Three candidates are on the ballot for the Green Party – Howie Hawkins, Dario Hunter and David Rolde. Two candidates are on the ballot for the Constitution Party – Don J. Grundmann and Don Blankenship.

Polls are open from 6 a.m. until 7 p.m. on Election Day. If you’re in line by the time the polls close at 7 p.m., you still have the right to cast your vote. You don’t have to be done voting by the time the polls close.

The deadline has already passed to register to vote in Missouri but to find polling places and sample ballots and other information, visit the Missouri Secretary of

State’s website at https://s1.sos.mo.gov/elections/voterlookup/.

Enter your name, address and birthday to make sure you’re registered.

Acceptable forms of voter identification

Show one of the forms of acceptable identification and sign the poll book to obtain your ballot:

• Identification issued by the state of Missouri, an agency of the state, or a local election authority of the state;

• Identification issued by the United States government or agency thereof;

• Identification issued by an institution of higher education, including a university, college, vocational and technical school, located within the state of Missouri; or

• A copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, government check or other government document that contains the name and address of the voter.

So far in the ongoing primary election, Biden leads the Democrats in number of delegates with 670. Sanders trails behind with 574, with Warren in a distant third at 69 delegates. Warren dropped out of the race after dismal results following Super Tuesday last week. A total of 1,409 delegates have been declared so far and 1,991 delegates are necessary to win the nomination. Trump has received all of the available delegates so far (except one which went to Bill Weld) for the Republican candidates. A total of 834 delegates have been delcared (with Trump claiming 833) and 1,276 are necessary to win the nomination.

The Missouri primary is an open primary, with the state awarding 78 delegates, of which 68 are pledged delegates allocated on the basis of the results of the primary.