The election scheduled for August 4th this year is a primary, and in the state of Missouri that is defined as open, with nonpartisan registration. While voters aren’t required to affiliate with a specific party, they do have to choose which party ballot to vote in a primary election.
Livingston County Clerk Sherry Parks explains even if a voter doesn’t want to choose a party, they are able to get a ballot.
every candidate on party ballot, don’t have to choose those
Parks reveals there are some states that just hand voters a ballot based upon their declared party affiliation; she feels the Missouri open primary set up is preferable.