Election officials expect more than 70% of Missouri's registered voters to participate in this election – and as many as one in five could cast their ballot early.

“It feels like the floodgates have opened and people are ready to vote today,” said Eric Fey, the Democratic elections director for St. Louis County.

More than 15,000 people voted in person in St. Louis County on Tuesday.

St. Louis city officials did not respond to interview requests.

In Jefferson County, there was a dramatic increase – 800% – in the number of voters who cast ballots on the first day of early voting compared to 2022. As of Tuesday afternoon, about 900 voters had cast their ballots — an 800% increase from the 96 who cast ballots on the first day of early voting two years ago.

“We had a line all day and people didn’t seem to care,” she said. “They just didn’t want to stand in line on Election Day.”

Goff expects the numbers to increase. In 2022, about 12,000 people voted early in the six days before the November general election.

There were also long lines at polling stations throughout St. Charles County, according to election director Kurt Bahr. About 3,500 people voted in person on Tuesday. This is in addition to voters casting their ballots via traditional absentee voting, which requires a notarized ballot to be returned to the clerk's office by 7:00 p.m. on Election Day.

No-excuse absentee voting lasts until November 4th, the day before the general election.

The St. Louis County Board of Elections allows early voting at 14 locations. For more information, including a list of locations and hours of operation, visit the St. Louis County Election Board website, www.stlouiscountymo.gov.

In St. Charles County, no-excuse absentee voting is available at the Board of Elections headquarters, 397 Turner Boulevard, in St. Peters; and at Element Church, 100 Mall Parkway #500 in Wentzville.

The city of St. Louis has eight early voting locations, including the Board of Elections headquarters at 300 North Tucker Boulevard. For a list of websites, visit the Board of Elections website, www.stlouis-mo.gov.