Voting for the Aug. 4 primaries has officially begun.
Early in-person voting and voting by mail began Tuesday for the primaries, which include local, state and federal races along with several ballot issues.
The Missouri Legislature elected to put four constitutional amendments on the ballot. If passed, Amendment 1 would renew the existing 0.1 percent sales and use tax for 10 years to fund state parks and conservation efforts.
Amendment 2 would require the Jackson County assessor to be an elected position. All other counties in Missouri already require an election for assessors.
If passed, Amendment 4 would require voter approval of citizen-initiated constitutional amendments in each of the eight congressional districts, rather than statewide; prohibit foreign nationals or adversaries from spending money on ballot measures; and penalize ballot initiative signature fraud.
Amendment 5, if passed by voters, would phase out the individual income tax until it is eliminated; reduce personal property and other local taxes when local revenues increase, while prohibiting reductions in public school funding; and limit the expansion of sales and use taxes unless they are used to reduce income tax.
Early voting
According to the Jefferson County Clerk’s Office’s webpage, applications to vote by absentee ballot must be received by the second Wednesday before any election to receive a ballot by mail.
For the August primaries, applications must be submitted by July 22.
Applications can be printed and filled out on the county’s website, jeffcomo.gov/253/Election-Authority-Voter-Registration.
The application can be returned via fax, 636-797-5360; mail, P.O. Box 100, Hillsboro, Mo. 63050; or in person at the County Clerk’s Office, 729 Maple St. in Hillsboro.
According to the Clerk’s Office’s webpage, ballots are typically mailed within one to two days of receiving the application. The ballot must be filled out and returned by 7 p.m. on Election Day to ensure the votes are counted.
If voters know they will be unable to vote on Election Day, they can plan to vote absentee in person at the County Clerk’s Office.
The office is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The office is closed on Saturday and Sunday.
Voters must bring a valid photo identification card, including a Missouri driver’s license, passport or military ID.
Not on the ballot
Since the filing period closed March 31, several candidates have withdrawn from races.
Nick Vivio, running as a Democrat in the U.S. Rep. District 2 race, withdrew on May 19; Clayton Christopher Harbison, running as a Democrat in the U.S. Rep. District 8 race, withdrew on May 15.
Chris Howard, running as a Republican in the race for County Executive, withdrew on May 15; Billy Crow, running as a Republican in the Arnold Township Committeeman race, withdrew on April 1; Leslie Hanson, running as a Republican in the Rock Township Committeewoman race, withdrew on May 11; John Jay Lee, running as a Republican in the Joachim Township Committeeman race, withdrew on March 19.
Lee will remain on the ballot, as a Republican, for the County Council District 5 seat.
He will face Anthony Pousosa, Timothy Bennett and Misty Whetstone at the ballot box.
While Circuit Judge Ed Page retired on April 30, his name is still listed on the ballot for the primary election. He has no challengers in the Aug. 4 or Nov. 3 elections.
Page filed on Feb. 24, seeking his first full-term in office after being appointed by Gov. Mike Parson to the position in March 2022 to finish out the last four years of Darrell Missey’s term.
According to the Secretary of State’s Office, write-in candidates are not allowed in the primary election, but write-in candidates may file for the Nov. 3 election by 5 p.m. Oct. 23.
Contested August Primary Candidates
The Leader mailed surveys on June 11 to all candidates with races in the Aug. 4 election in Jefferson County, Eureka and Wildwood.
The survey is used for the Leader’s voters guide, which is scheduled to be published July 16.
The deadline to respond is 5 p.m. July 3. Responses received after the deadline will not be published.
For information, call Leader Publications at 636-931-7560.