How to be sure you're prepared to vote Aug. 3

COLUMBIA — Primary elections for several county, state and Congressional races will take place Tuesday across Missouri. To read more about individual races, check out our voter's guide.

It is too late to register to vote, but registered voters can update their address information or name up until the time they vote. If your address has changed since the last time you voted, you must notify the Boone County Clerk to be assigned the correct polling place. To do so, use this form or call 573-886-4357 by election day.

New voters can register for the Nov. 2 general election anytime before Oct. 6.

Polls are open Tuesday from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

For the first time, Boone County precincts will use electronic poll books to speed up voter processing. Voters who received a notice with a bar code and instructions in the mail should bring that paper to expedite voting. If the notice was misplaced, machines can also scan the barcode on the back of Missouri drivers licenses.

The electronic books are designed to reduce paper waste from the traditional thick binders containing rosters of registered voters. Election officials will no longer have to look up voters by name, and digital scans will replace hand signatures.

Poll workers have been trained in recent weeks on how to use the new system.

Missouri has an open primary system and does not register voters by party. However, when voting in the primary, you must specify a party ballot and will only be able to vote for candidates of that party. 

According to the Secretary of State's office, statewide turnout is expected to be 24 percent.

Boone County turnout is expected to be about 18 percent.