Ashcroft advises voters to use trusted sources, watch for third parties

Jefferson City, Mo. — With no-excuse in-person absentee voting underway across the state, Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft is encouraging Missouri voters to use trusted sources for election related information – such as county clerks, local election boards, and the Missouri Secretary of State’s office, instead of third-party groups.

County officials have reported strong early voting numbers causing lines at designated polling locations. Concerns were raised by a county clerk after a voter arrived expecting to avoid these lines claiming he signed up online for an appointment to vote giving out personal information including home address, phone number and email.

“We are seeing a rise in the number of third-party groups claiming to provide information – sometimes misinformation, to voters. Not only are you handing over your personal data without having any way of knowing how it might be used in the future, but appointment voting is not an option,” said Ashcroft. “I want to make sure Missouri voters are receiving information they can trust. Always check with your local election authority or my office if you’re unsure.”

Missouri has 116 local election authorities (LEAs) who work to protect election integrity and make sure things run smoothly across the state. To find contact information for your LEA, select the appropriate county from the drop-down list found on the Missouri Secretary of State’s website.