Voting Records

Voter Registrations Finding Aid

Types of Organization

  • 1896 - 1937  appear in Registers which are Not Alphabetized
  • 1937 - 1971   appear in Abstract on Yellow Cards - Partially Alphabetized

In order to access voters registrations:

  1. Look up an Ancestor in City Directory to determine street address.
  2. Use street address to determine Ward & Precinct on Voters Registration Maps.
  3. Utilize the attached guide to determine which roll of microfilm to view.  The Finding Aids are sorted first by Ward then Precinct.

Voters Registration Finding Aids exist for 1896 (partial) and 1936 and correspond with Microfilms held  in the History & Genealogy collection

Original Register of Voters - City of St. Louis  (SLVR 1 - 609)

1896 - 1919  Ledger  (only Men) 
Microfilm is all that exists of Ledgers.  Original Ledgers were destroyed. 

1920 - 1937  Ledger  (Men and Women)

  • signature
  • address
  • birthplace
  • age in years
  • naturalized
  • court
  • date
  • city  (resident - years / time)
  • location

1937-1971 Yellow Cards (men and women) SLVR 834-859

  • native
  • name
  • birth date
  • birthplace
  • occupation
  • naturalized
    • court and date
  • signature
  • one card (two sides) per person
  • signature
  • address
  • what election voted in by date
  • all say cancelled
    • moved
    • died
Microfilm Names and Dates Roll Number
MO, St. Louis City, Original Register of Voters, 1896–1936 SLVR 1–75
MO, St. Louis City, Original Register of Voters, 1896–1936 SLVR 76–150
MO, St. Louis City, Original Register of Voters, 1896–1936 SLVR 151–225
MO, St. Louis City, Original Register of Voters, 1896–1936 SLVR 226–315
MO, St. Louis City, Original Register of Voters, 1896–1936 SLVR 316–410
MO, St. Louis City, Original Register of Voters, 1896–1936 SLVR 411–485
MO, St. Louis City, Original Register of Voters, 1896–1936 SLVR 486–569
MO, St. Louis City, Original Register of Voters, 1896–1936 SLVR 570–609
MO, St. Louis City, Canceled Voter Affidavits, 1937–1961 SLVR 610–677
MO, St. Louis City, Canceled Voter Affidavits, 1937–1961 SLVR 678–776
MO, St. Louis City, Canceled Voter Affidavits-Deaths, 1937–1963 SLVR 777–793
MO, St. Louis City, Canceled Voter Affidavits Prior to 1970 SLVR 794–822
MO, St. Louis City, Canceled Voter Affidavits Prior to 1970 SLVR 823–828
MO, St. Louis City, Canceled Voter Affidavits-Deaths Prior to 1970 SLVR 829–832
MO, St. Louis City, List of Registered Voters Prior to 1972, Ward 1, Precinct 1 SLVR 833
MO, St. Louis City, Abstracts of Votes, 1937–1973 SLVR 834–859
MO, St. Louis City, Affidavits-October 1975 SLVR 860–865, 874–893
MO, St. Louis City, Affidavits-December 1973 SLVR 866–873
MO, St. Louis City, Canceled Voters Affidavits-Deaths, 1978 SLVR 894–901
MO, St. Louis City, Canceled Voters-Deaths, 1978 SLVR 902–924

Finding Aid for St. Louis City Canceled Voter Affidavits

These series of 16-millimeter films are negative and arranged in alphabetical order by surname of the registered voters in the city of St. Louis. It is 
recommended to use a higher magnification lens when using them since the images are small and many are very difficult to read. Some of the 
information is so faint it is barely legible or in some cases illegible.

Questions asked on these affidavits are name; sex; race; occupation; address; address from which last registered; ward and precinct; date of birth; place of birth (state or country); if naturalized - the date, court, place and certificate number; if of derivative citizenship - name of husband or parent, date and place of naturalization, date of marriage if voting on husband's papers; if 
applicant is unable to sign name - height, eye color, father's first name, mother's maiden name, special marks of identification, whether physically disabled, and whether able to read and write. The signature of the voter is at the bottom. All but one set of records have the front and back of the cards filmed side by side. The voting record is on the back.

Many of the voter affidavit cards are stamped CANCELED BY (and then one of the following reasons is checked): Death; Marriage; Divorce; 
Duplicate Registration; Conviction; Adjudged Insane; or Board Action. The date of the cancellation is given as well. Some cards have a cancellation date stamped on the side tab of the card.

ST. LOUIS CITY - CANCELED VOTER AFFIDAVITS -1937-1961 
This is a set of 167 rolls of film numbered SL VR 610 to SL VR 776. The quality of this film is poor. Some of the information is barely legible. 
These are affidavits that were canceled for reasons other than by death - for example, failing to vote, board action, etc. Some of the cancellation dates are on the front and some are on the side tab of the card. Sometimes there isn't a canceled date stamped on the card or it's too faint to read.

ST. LOUIS CITY -CANCELED VOTER AFFIDAVITS -DEATHS - 1937-1963 
This is a set of 17 rolls of film numbered SL YR 777 to SL YR 793. The 
quality of this film is poor. It can be very difficult to read but most are at 
least somewhat legible. These affidavits were all canceled by reason of 
death. Although the date of cancellation could be many months later than the voter's actual date of death, at least a clue to an approximate date of death can be discovered. All of the dates of cancellation are on the front of the card. Many of the dates are barely legible and some are illegible.

ST. LOUIS CITY -CANCELED VOTER AFFIDAVITS - PRIOR TO 1970 
This is a set of 34 rolls of film numbered SL VR 794 to SL VR 828. The 
quality of this film is very poor. The information is either illegible or barely legible. These affidavits were canceled by reason other than death. The 
cancellation dates are mainly on the side tab of the cards. These dates are also barely legible or illegible.

ST. LOUIS CITY -CANCELED VOTER AFFIDAVITS -DEATHS - PRIOR TO 1970 
This is a set of 4 rolls of microfilm numbered SL YR 829 to SL YR 832. 
The quality of this film is poor. Much of the information is barely legible or illegible. These affidavits were all canceled by reason of death. The 
cancellation stamps are on the front of the card. The dates can be hard to 
read and range from around 1964 to 1970.

ST. LOUIS CITY - CANCELED VOTERS AFFIDAVITS - DEATHS - 1978 
This is a set of 8 rolls of microfilm numbered SL YR 894 to SL YR 901. 
Overall the quality of this film is good. These affidavits were all canceled by reason of death. The cancellation stamps are on the front of the card. 
Some of the dates are hard to read or illegible. There are no backs of the 
cards on this set of film. Only the fronts of the cards were filmed. Some of the cards have the actual deceased date on them as well. These are usually on the side tabs of the card. The dates of death or cancellation by death 
seem to range between 1970 to 1978. The later ones are more likely to have the deceased dates on them than the earlier ones.

ST. LOUIS CITY - CANCELED VOTERS - DEATHS -1978 
This is a set of 23 rolls of microfilm numbered SL YR 902 to SL YR 924. 
This series does not end with Z. It ends with the name Routt, Edward H. 
The quality ranges from good to very poor. This set seems to be mislabeled, since the reasons for cancellation are conviction, board action, etc. rather than cancellation by death. The dates on these cards can be pretty difficult to read. Some of the cards have CANVASS with the date stamped on them and some have 4 YEAR NO VOTE with the date. The dates on these cards are easier to read. The cancellation dates range from about 1970 to 1977. 

St. Louis Voting Law Changes Reported in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch 1875 - 1922

Who May Register:  
Male citizens of the US or person foreign who may have declared his intention to become a citizen of the US according to the law, not less than one year or more than five years before intends to vote, over the age of 21, resided in Missouri one year, resided in St. Louis at least 60 days, and in the precinct where he plans to vote at least 10 days.

Other Qualifications: 
Not convicted of bribery, perjury, or other infamous crimes, Not directly interested in any bet or wager depending on the outcome of the election, not in the Regular Army or Navy of the United States.  Not vote elsewhere in the election other than where his name is registered.

Who Responsible for Registration:
Recorder of Votes Appointed by the Mayor

Where record of registration kept:
Registration book for each election district of the city

Where Registration performed:
In registrar's office 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Evaluating Names: 
20 days before the election a Board of Revision made up of reputable citizens, one from each ward of the city, appointed by the mayor will meet to strike from the registration books the names of men who have moved, died, or for some other reason are not entitled to registration.

People Who Die or are Disqualified:
Physicians, public and private hospitals, and the coroner are required to report to the clerk of the board of health the name and residence of everyone who died. Each week the Board of Health is to notify the recorder of voters who died [from the above reports].

Notes:
If someone moves with the city he must notify the Recorder of Voters within 10 days of the next election. The Recorder of Voters and the Board of Revision create an alphabetical list of registered voters for each polling place.

Source:
"The Complete Text of the act as Amended," St. Louis Post Dispatch, 12 Mar 1875 p1

Where Registration is Performed:
Registration by Special Registrar the day of the election

Source:
"Gov. Phelps Signs the Election Bill," St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 30 Mar 1877 p1

When Registration is Done:
Registration closes 10 days before election

Source:
"The Rush on the Recorder Unparalled," St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 18 Oct 1880, p6

Notes:
Many voters wait until last day to register

Source:
"Scenes around the Recorder's Office this Morning," St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 22 Oct 1880 p1

When Registration is Done:
Registration closes 10 days before election

Source:
"The Rush on the Recorder Unparalled," St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 18 Oct 1880, p6

Notes:
Many voters wait until last day to register

Source:
"Scenes around the Recorder's Office this Morning," St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 22 Oct 1880 p1

When Registration is Done:
Registration closes 10 days before election

Source:
"The Rush on the Recorder Unparalled," St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 18 Oct 1880, p6

Notes:
Many voters wait til last day to register

Source:
"Scenes around the Recorder's Office this Morning," St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 22 Oct 1880 p1

Who May Register:
Male citizens of the United States and male persons of foreign birth who have declared their intention to become a citizen not less than on year prior or more than five years prior, is over the age of 21, has lived in the state for one year, has lived in the city 60 days, and has lived 20 days in the precinct where he intends to vote.

Other Qualifications:
Has not been convicted of bribery, perjury, or other infamous crime, or convicted of a misdemeanor connected with the right to vote, and is not directly connected to any bet or wager concerning the result of the election, is not an officer, soldier, or marine in the Army or Navy of the United States, is not kept at an asylum or poor house at public expense, and is not confined to a prison, and shall not vote elsewhere. Can register if will be 21 by the next election or if Declaration of Intention will be filed by then.

Who Responsible for Registration:
All cities of 100,000 or more population to have a Board of Election Commissioners of three persons, Chairman and one member appointed by the Governor, the third appointed by the Mayor. The Board of Elections Commissioners divides the city into precincts.

Where Record of Registration Kept:
One copy in the precinct, two at the Board of Election Commissioners.

Where Registration Performed:
Board of Election Commissioners appoints a place of registry in each precinct. 10 days notice of where and when registration is to take place.

When is Registration done:
A New General Registration of all voters made every year when a presidential election is held on Tuesday, four weeks before the election, the Saturday following, and Tuesday, three weeks before the election. The list used for intervening elections but is revised before each one by the Board of Registry for each precinct.

Evaluating Names:
Board of Election Commissioner selects four judges and two clerks for each precinct (Board of Registry). Two judges and one clerk from each of the two parties polling the largest number of votes at the last election. The Board of Registry meets the Saturday following the Third Tuesday before the election to revise the voter list.  The Board of Election Commissioners evaluates the names and hold hearing to remove names.  This can be challenged in the Circuit Court.

People who Die or are Disqualified:
Clerks and Justices of the Peace to notify the Board of Election Commissioners of individuals who have been convicted of crimes that would exclude them from voting [Felonies or Misdemeanors related to voting].  Persons in charge of vital statistics for the county to notify the board of Election Commissioners of any deaths.

Source: 
"Official Copy of the New Election Law," St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 22 Mar 1895 p8

When is Registration Done:
One day for Registration before Mayoral Election

Source: 
"One day for Registration," St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 15 Mar 1897 p8

When is Registration Done:
One day for Registration before Mayoral Election

Source: 
"One day for Registration," St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 15 Mar 1897 p8

Who May Register:
Women given right to vote in Missouri for President of the United States.

Sources:
"Inside Story of How Women Won the Right to Vote in Missouri," St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 13 Apr 1919 p A1

Who Responsible for Registration:
Board of Election Commissioners creates 100 new precincts to accommodate the additional voters created by the enfranchisement of women

Source:
"Election board adds 100 Voting places for Women," St. Louis Post-Dispatch 15 Jun 1920, p3

Other Qualifications:
Only Women who are citizens can vote, 19th Amendment only grants right to vote to citizens, not people in the process of naturalization.  [apparently men in the process of naturalization can still vote.]

Source:
"Only Women Who Are Citizens Can Vote," St. Louis Post- Dispatch, 24 Oct 1920 p14

When is Registration Done:
Registration 13 Sep through 16 Sep for All

Source:
"Registration begins for General Election: No Rush of Women," St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 13 Sep 1920 p1

Other Qualifications:
No woman, native born or naturalized who is married to an alien is allowed to vote

Where Registration is Done:
Registration at Polling Places

"Polling Places Open Tomorrow for Registration," St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 21 Jun 1922 p4

Who May Register:
Registration Begins in St. Louis

Source:
"Registration in County to End Election Frauds Urged by Grand Jury," St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 28 Dec 1920 p17