Jefferson City, MO – Absentee ballots for the February 7, 2012, Presidential Primary Election must be available to military and overseas voters by December 24, 2011. For offices closed on Saturday, December 24, ballots must be available by the close of business on Friday, December 23.

Secretary of State Robin Carnahan is urging military and overseas voters to request their absentee ballots as soon as possible to ensure they can participate in the upcoming Presidential Primary. Military and overseas voters can find contact information for their local election officials in Missouri online at www.sos.mo.gov/elections/goVoteMissouri/localelectionauthority.aspx.

In past elections, mailing a ballot overseas could take up to 18 days, making it difficult for voters to return their ballot by the Election Day deadline on February 7, 2012. Voters may choose to receive their ballot via mail, secure email or fax. After voting, a tracking system will allow voters to confirm their ballot was received by their local election authority in Missouri.

All voters are reminded that the last day to register to vote in the Presidential Primary Election is January 11, 2012. Registration information is available online at www.sos.mo.gov/elections/govotemissouri/print.aspx.

The last day to request an absentee ballot, whether by guardian, relative within the second degree, mail or facsimile, is February 1, 2012.