Weston 2012 Voter Guide

Don’t let Election Day sneak up on you! I was disappointed to realize I missed the deadline to register to vote in February’s Presidential primary. But I’ll be there bright and early for our local elections in April and the national event in November. Keep reading for all you need to know to be a Weston voter:

• If you are uncertain whether you are registered to vote at your current address, simply call the helpful people at the Platte County Board of Elections at 816-858-4400.
• If you need to register or update your address, you can do so at Weston’s City Hall, the Weston library or the Platte County Board of Elections at 2600 NW Prairie View Road in Platte City. FYI the deadline to register is the fourth Wednesday before the scheduled election. And remember you will need to show a valid Missouri driver’s license or other form of identification.
• This year’s election dates:

1. Tuesday, February 7 – Presidential Preference Primary
2. Tuesday, April 3 – General Municipal Election
3. Tuesday, November 6 – General Election

• Voting in Weston and surrounding areas occurs at the American Legion Hall at 401 Blackhawk Street from 6:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m.
• When voting, an election judge will ask to see your identification (see list below), locate your name in the register, and ask you to verify your current residential address. Once all information is cleared, you will sign the poll register. Then you will be given your choice of voting on a paper ballot using the Optical Scan voting system or casting your ballot on the handicapped-accessible touch screen machine. Both machines are utilized at all state and federal elections in Platte County.
• The acceptable forms of identification are drivers or non-drivers license from Missouri or another state, state ID card from Missouri or another state, military ID card, passport, Missouri college/university/technical school ID, social security card, or birth certificate, Medicare/Medicaid card, other federal- or state-issued ID. The following forms of voter identification must show your current Platte County residential address: signed voter ID card, voter notification card, current utility bill, current bank statement, government check or paycheck.
• You have two options when voting in Platte County. The first is a paper ballot (or optical scan) which requires you to completely fill in the oval next to the candidate’s name or question response with a provided marking pen. The paper ballot is then inserted into the optical scan reader and dropped into the attached ballot box.  The second option is a touch screen unit with assistance from a voter tech. A paper copy of your ballot is printed for your review. When satisfied, you cast the ballot and the paper copy is sealed and retained in the event of a court-mandated hand recount.
• To vote by absentee ballot, you must be absent from Platte County on Election Day, suffer an illness or incapacity and/or be a primary caregiver, be an employee of the Election Board, have a religious practice prohibiting you from attending on Election Day, or be incarcerated and able to provide voting qualification.  You may request an absentee ballot in person at the Election Board; by mail (Platte County Board of Elections, P.O. Box 560, Platte City, MO 64079) providing reason for voting absentee, voter’s signature and mailing address; by fax to 816-858-3387 providing the same information. An absentee ballot request must be received no later than the Wednesday prior to Election Day. The absentee voter may submit the ballot from the sixth Tuesday prior to Election Day up until 7:00 p.m. on Election Day. The online Application for Absentee Ballot may be accessed at http://www.co.platte.mo.us/docs/elections/absenteeballotappforwebsite.pdf.
• If you would like to serve as an election judge or touch screen technician, contact the Board of Elections at 816-858-4400. Or visit http://www.co.platte.mo.us/docs/elections/poll_worker_2008.pdf for the online application. New election judge training is required and is scheduled twice each year. Poll workers are paid $25 for attending training and $100 for working at the polls on Election Day. Supervisory judges are paid $125.