Missouri no-excuse absentee voting now open ahead of Aug. 4 primary

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KY3) - No-excuse absentee voting is now underway in Missouri, allowing residents to cast an early ballot at select central locations in their county through Election Day on Aug. 4.

Missouri is expecting approximately 40% voter turnout for the August election, according to Cole County Elections Clerk Steve Korsmeyer, who said that figure is average for a midterm primary election.

Missourians will vote in primary elections for state auditor and all eight U.S. House of Representatives seats, as well as on four statewide constitutional amendments. Voters will cast ballots under the new Missouri First Congressional Map, drawn during a special legislative session last year. The map has been contested by a petition that the Secretary of State has yet to verify.

What to bring to the polls

Voters must bring a current, government-issued photo ID and be prepared to select a party ballot: Republican, Democratic, Libertarian or Independent.

“You’ll have to pick which party you want when you go to vote, because this is a party primary. So you’ll pick your party, fill it out, and then put it in the machine,” Korsmeyer said. “It is a legal-size ballot, and it is both sides. There’s a lot on there, so come prepared.”

What’s on the ballot

Amendment 1: Natural resources sales tax

Amendment 1 would continue an existing one-tenth of 1% sales and use tax that supports soil and water conservation, state parks and historic sites for 10 more years. The tax generates approximately $140 million annually. Voters would be asked to reapprove the tax again in 10 years.

Amendment 2: County assessors

Amendment 2 would require all charter counties, including Jackson County, to elect a county assessor. It would also require assessors in all charter counties to comply with training requirements established by state law. State and local governmental entities estimate no costs or savings.

Amendment 4: Constitutional amendments

Amendment 4 would modify the current requirement that a simple statewide majority of voters may approve initiative petitions to amend the state constitution. Under the measure, a majority of voters in each congressional district would be required to approve such petitions. The full text of initiative petitions would also be made available to each voter with their ballot. The Department of Corrections estimates increased annual costs of up to $21,817 if the measure passes.

Amendment 5: Taxes

Amendment 5 would phase out and eliminate the individual income tax based on revenue growth. It would also require the reduction of personal property and other local taxes when local sales tax revenues increase, while preserving local funding for public schools. If implementing legislation is passed, the state expects a reduction of $57,000 annually in income tax check-off donations and implementation costs of at least $100,000.

Mail-in ballot deadlines

Wednesday is the last day to mail a ballot for it to arrive by Election Day. All mail-in ballots must be received at the county clerk’s office by 7 p.m. on Election Day.

“We have all the results on Election Day. There are a few military ballots that come in a little later that we have to add, but other than that we don’t count ballots after Election Day; they have to be in our office by 7 o’clock, all mail-in ballots,” Korsmeyer said.

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