COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

No-excuse absentee voting opened Tuesday, giving all registered Boone County voters the chance to cast their ballots early in person.

The Boone County Clerk's Office says on its website that no-excuse absentee voting allows any registered voter in the county to cast a ballot in person just like on Election Day.

No-excuse absentee voting will be available every weekday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Boone County Government Center.

For additional weekend hours, the Clerk's Office will hold no-excuse absentee voting on:

• Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Columbia Mall (across from Bath & Body Works)
• Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Douglass High School
• Aug. 1 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Southern Boone Public Library and Centralia Public Library
• Aug. 2 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Columbia/Boone County Health Department

When voting with an absentee ballot in person, you must show an acceptable form of photo ID. Acceptable forms are:

• Missouri driver's license
• Missouri non-driver's license
• U.S. passport
• Military ID

Early voter Abel Richardson, who cast a ballot Tuesday at the Boone County Government Center, said voting is vital to democracy.

"I think an important feature of our democracy is making sure that everybody's voices get heard, no matter what the circumstances are, and early voting allows for that," Richardson said. "Because there are a lot of things at stake. There are simple civil liberties that are at stake. Your taxes are at stake."

Another early voter, Dan Vinson, has used this option before. " Yeah. I don't remember which election, but we were going to be out of town, so we just voted early."

Regarding the benefits of early voting, Vinson shared his thoughts: "I think voting is an opportunity as well as a responsibility."

"There are a couple of issues on the ballot as well for every voter in Boone," he said.

No-excuse absentee voting will end on Aug. 3, and Election Day is on Aug. 4.