Bates County, Missouri
Bates County, Missouri voter information: how to register, check your status, see your sample ballot and contact your local election office. Home to about 16,400 people, Bates County ranks 64th in population among Missouri's 115 counties. In Missouri, elections are run by local election authorities: the county clerk in most counties, or a board of election commissioners in several cities and counties.
Next Election
August 8, 2028
Voter Portal
Register Online
What's On My Ballot?
ID Requirements
Absentee / Early Voting
Registration Deadline
Register by the fourth Wednesday before an election.
Why Voting Matters
Every eligible adult in Bates County, Missouri holds the same power on Election Day: one vote that counts exactly as much as anyone else's. The next election for Bates County voters is Missouri's state primary on August 8, 2028; local elections can come sooner, so check your local election office. Many Bates County jobs are in health care and retail, so decisions about health care costs and local businesses hit close to home.
About 8,340 people voted for president in Bates County in 2024 (about the same as the 8,420 cast in 2020). That equals roughly 65% of the county's estimated 12,900 adults, above the statewide rate of about 61%.
Around 4,550 adults here did not vote for president. Some aren't eligible, yet the rest are untapped power: one more voter in every 20 of them would mean about 227 extra Bates County ballots, enough to change the result in many close contests.
Bates County is rural, with about 20 people per square mile across 837 square miles, so every vote carries extra weight in local races. The county is home to about 0.3% of Missouri's population.
ZIP codes in or partly in Bates County include 64647, 64720, 64722, 64723, 64724, 64730, 64742 and 64745, plus 4 more. Check that your registration is current, look up your sample ballot, and make a plan to vote. Then ask a friend or family member in Bates County to do the same.
Voter Assistance Resources
Questions about voting in Bates County? In Missouri, elections are run by local election authorities: the county clerk in most counties, or a board of election commissioners in several cities and counties. For registration, polling places, early voting and absentee ballots, contact the Bates County local election authority (county clerk or board of election commissioners).
Statewide directory, Missouri Secretary of State elections division:
https://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/
See your sample ballot. Missouri Secretary of State elections division (voter lookup shows sample ballots):
https://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/
You can also preview a personalized ballot at Vote411.org.
To ask a question or report a problem at the polls, call or text Election Protection at 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683), a free nonpartisan hotline. For help in Spanish call 888-VE-Y-VOTA (888-839-8682); for Asian languages call 888-API-VOTE (888-274-8683).
Voters with disabilities in Bates County can ask for an accessible voting machine, curbside voting where offered, and help from a person of their choice. If you run into barriers, contact Missouri Protection & Advocacy, Missouri's Protection and Advocacy agency, at (573) 893-3333. VoteRiders (844-338-8743) offers free help with voter ID.
Need a ride? Many local transit agencies and ride services offer free or discounted rides to the polls on Election Day, so check what is available before the next election. See our Missouri voter page for statewide options. Details can change, so confirm with the official election office.
Military and overseas voters can get help from the Federal Voting Assistance Program at 1-800-438-VOTE (8683) or fvap.gov.
Sign up to be an election worker
Election workers (often called poll workers) keep voting running smoothly in Bates County. Most are paid for their time, get free training, and help their neighbors cast their ballots. You can work a full day, a shorter shift, or help before Election Day. County and municipal election offices recruit and train their own workers, and the EAC's Help America Vote page links to yours. Find out how to sign up:
https://www.eac.gov/help-america-vote
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