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1. How do I register to vote?

Who can sign up?

In order to vote, citizens living in Missouri must register to vote. Any U.S.citizen 17 years and 6 months of age or older, if a Missouri resident, may register in the state. The following are the only exceptions:

A person who is adjudged incapacitated
A person who is confined under sentence of imprisonment
A person who is on probation or parole after a conviction of a Felony until final discharge
A person after conviction of a felony or misdemeanor connected with the right of suffrage (RSMo 115.133)

How and where can I register to vote?

Qualified citizens may register in person at the County Clerk’s Office, by mail, on the Secretary of State's website, or at the Driver's License Bureau. You become registered by completing a form with identity and residence information and qualifications that are signed and sworn to, then witnessed by the election authority or designated deputy.

You must be 18 years of age by the day of a particular election to be eligible to vote in that election. Also, you must be registered by the 4th Wednesday preceding an election to be eligible to vote in that election.

Register to vote here!

2. What kind of identification do I need to take with me to vote?

Missouri's photo ID requirement for voting starts June 1, 2017. That means in any election after that date, you will be asked to show a photo ID before you vote. Please click on the link to learn to more: Missouri identification requirements for voting

3. I need help when I vote. What are my options?

Curbside Voting:

If you have limited mobility you may be able to vote "curbside" or outside the polling place. You should go to your polling place and ask someone to go in and ask poll workers to bring a ballot out to you. The poll workers will bring you out a ballot to fill out.

Accessible Voting Systems:

At every federal election, every polling place must have an accessible voting system for individuals with disabilities including audiovisual accessibility. Accessible systems include an audio ballot to make selections or the ability to enlarge text so that you can read the on-screen ballot with ease.

Permanent Absentee Voting:

If you have a permanent physical disability you may request to be placed on a designated list so an absentee ballot application will be mailed to you automatically to you prior to each election.

Personal Assistance:

If you cannot read or write, are blind or have another physical disability and cannot vote your ballot, you may choose to bring in a person to help you vote. Your assistant does not have to be over the age of 18 or have to be registered to vote. Additionally, a bipartisan team of poll workers can assist you upon request.

4. When does my polling place open?

Polling places open at 6:00 a.m. and remain open until 7:00 p.m. Those individuals arriving after the polling place has closed will not be allowed to vote. However, those individuals in line at 7:00 p.m. will be allowed to vote.

5. What do I need to bring to complete my Notary Commission?

For notary applicants who have been approved and bonded by the Secretary of State's office, you will need to appear in person at the County Clerk's office to complete qualifying for your commission. First, please call our office at 271-1412 to verify your Commission Certificate has been received by our office. You will need to bring the following items:

1) $10,000 surety bond to insure your four-year term as a notary public

2) $6.00- cash or check made out to the Buchanan County Clerk's office (we currently do not have the ability to take payment by debit/credit card)

If you have not qualified with the Secretary of State's Office, then please see the link below to learn how to become a notary. How to Become a Notary

6. Where do I get a County Liquor License for my business?

To apply for a NEW BUSINESS Liquor License: •Must have a copy of State liquor license To apply for your state Liquor License call: •Chuck Bidding (816)743-8888 - Kansas City Office (816)889-3149 - Fax Charles.bidding@dps.mo.gov . Once you have your state license fill out the application and mail along with a copy of your state liquor license and the applicable fee to: Buchanan County Clerk 411 Jules Street, Room 121 St. Joseph, MO 64501 If you have any questions you can call the County Clerk's office at (816) 271-1412. The County Liquor License application is in the "Helpful Documents" section of the webpage.

State Liquor License applications

7. How do I obtain my Alcohol Server License and get server training?

Servers in St. Joseph, Missouri will need to get their license at St. Joseph City Hall. Please call City Hall at 271-4757. You can obtain server training through the Missouri Department of Public Safety- Alcohol and Tobacco Control website. Server Training

8. How do I obtain my County Auctioneer's License?

An Auctioneer License may be obtained by applying through the County Clerk's Office. The Auctioneer License application can be found in the "Helpful Documents" tab of our website. Call the County Clerk's office at 271-1412 if you have any questions. Please see the fee chart below:

License fees are:
10 Day - $5.00
1 Month - $10.00
3 Months - $20.00
6 Months - $30.00
12 Months - $50.00

A $2.00 fee applies to each license. We accept cash, money orders, or checks made payable to Buchanan County Clerk (we currently do not have the ability to process payments with a debit/credit card).

9. I need a copy of a birth or death record from Buchanan County. How do I obtain these records?

A limited number of birth and death records for the period of 1883-1893 are kept in the County Clerk's office. Please contact the Clerk's Office at 271-1412 if the records you need are within those years. WE DO NOT HAVE RECORDS FOR ANY OTHER YEARS HERE IN THE COURTHOUSE. PLEASE SEE THE LIST BELOW AND USE OUR HELPFUL LINKS TO CONTACT OTHER AGENCIES: * Birth Records after 1910- Contact Patee Hall at (816) 271-4636. * Birth Records from 1891-1909- Contact the St. Joseph Public Library at (816) 232-8151 * All Death Certificates- Contact Vital Records at (573) 751-6387 *Genealogy Information- Contact NW Missouri Genealogy Society at (816) 233-0524 or check out their website.

Northwest Missouri Genealogy Society

10. How can I set up a tour of the Courthouse for my school group or organization?

Tours are available of the County Courthouse by contacting the County Clerk's office at 271-1412. Please let us know the number of students/people in your group and what you are interested in learning about (i.e. history, architecture, county government).