CONTESTED RACES, MULTIPLE BALLOT QUESTIONS DRAWING INTEREST
Several choices and decisions will confront Platte Countians when they step into the voting booth next Tuesday, Nov. 8, and local election officials are expecting a high turnout.
There are contested races for some county, state legislature and federal positions, and multiple constitutional amendments are on the ballot. Also on the ballot is a question of whether to renew the Platte County sales tax for roads, at a reduced rate of a quarter cent.
Election officials say voters should be aware of a couple of things, including a no-excuse absentee voting opportunity and a new photo ID law.
“Missouri has a new law requiring voters to have a photo ID,” says Chris Hershey, a director for the Platte County Board of Elections. “An acceptable ID is a Missouri driver’s or non-driver’s license or an ID issued by the federal government with a picture.”
Hershey explained that a voter who is registered but lacks an acceptable ID may vote a provisional ballot. Election officials will then “compare the signature on the provisional envelope to the voters registration to determine eligibility.”
Hershey said Missouri has allowed for two weeks of no-excuse absentee voting, which is underway at the board of elections office in Platte City.
“We are currently in that no-excuse needed absentee voting period. Any voter can come and vote in our office without providing a reason (like being out of town on election day) from now until 5 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 7. Voters taking advantage of in-office absentee voting will mark their ballot and put it in the scanner just like on election day,” Hershey explained.
A lot of folks have already taken advantage of the no-excuse-needed opportunity. As of Monday morning, local election officials have issued 3,245 early ballots, a number that includes ballots mailed but not yet returned. As for voting in person at the board of elections office–which is located at 2600 NW Prairie View Road in Platte City–more than 1,800 people had already done that as of Monday morning. More than 1,200 of those came during the no-excuse absentee period, Hershey said.
The year 2022 is of course a mid-term election on the national scene. In the most recent mid-term election which occurred in 2018, turnout in Platte County was 69.89 percent, Hershey said.
So what will turnout be this year?
Hershey said based on the 2018 number, “71 percent is my guess,” for 2022.
By comparison, the local voter turnout in the presidential election of 2020 was more than 10 percent higher, at 82.67 percent, Hershey said.
THE BALLOT
Contested county races will include:
Presiding commissioner: Scott Fricker, Republican, and John DeFoor, Sr., Democrat.
County clerk: Jera Pruitt, Republican, and Rebecca Nafzinger, Democrat.
Running unopposed for county positions are Kevin Robinson, Republican, incumbent, county auditor; Christopher L. Wright, recorder of deeds, Republican, running to replace retiring Gloria Boyer; Sheila Palmer, Republican, incumbent collector; and Eric Zahnd, Republican, incumbent county prosecutor.
ROADS TAX: Platte County voters will choose yes or no on renewal of the county sales tax for roads. The current roads tax is 3/8th cent but the question on the ballot is for renewal of the sales tax for roads at a reduced rate of a quarter cent. A simple majority is required for passage.
STATE LEGISLATURE
Positions up for grabs at the state legislature level include:
State Senate, 34th district: Tony Luetkemeyer, incumbent, Republican, vs. Sarah Shorter, Democratic challenger.
State representative in the 12th district: Tom Hutsler, Republican, Parkville, vs. Jamie Johnson, Kansas City in Platte County, Democrat.
State representative in the 13th district: Incumbent Sean Pouche, Republican, unopposed.
State representative in the 14th district: Eric Holmes, Republican, Kansas City in Platte County vs. incumbent Ashley Aune, Democrat, Kansas City in Platte County.
OTHER RACES:
U.S. Senator: Eric Schmitt, Republican; Trudy Busch Valentine, Democrat; Jonathan Dine, Libertarian; Paul Venable, Constitution party.
Winner will replace the retiring Roy Blunt in the U.S. Senate.
State auditor: Scott Fitzpatrick, Republican; Alan Green, Democrat; John A. Hartwig, Jr., Libertarian.
U.S. Representative, 6th district: Sam Graves, incumbent, Republican; Henry Martin, Democrat; Edward A. (Andy) Maidment, Libertarian.
CONSTITUTIONAL
AMENDMENTS
AMENDMENT 1
Do you want to amend the Missouri Constitution to allow the general assembly to override the current constitutional restrictions of state investments by the state treasurer and allow state investments in municipal securities possessing one of the top five highest long term ratings or the highest short term rating?
Below is the “fair ballot language” for the Nov. 8 general election, published by Missouri Secretary of State John Ashcroft on the agency’s website, www.sos.mo.gov.
AMENDMENT 3
This amendment deals with the legalization of marijuana.
Proposed by Initiative Petition
Official Ballot Title:
Do you want to amend the Missouri Constitution to:
·remove state prohibitions on purchasing, possessing, consuming, using, delivering, manufacturing, and selling marijuana for personal use for adults over the age of twenty-one;
·require a registration card for personal cultivation with prescribed limits;
·allow persons with certain marijuana-related non-violent offenses to petition for release from incarceration or parole and probation and have records expunged;
·establish a lottery selection process to award licenses and certificates;
·issue equally distributed licenses to each congressional district; and
·impose a six percent tax on the retail price of marijuana to benefit various programs?
State governmental entities estimate initial costs of $3.1 million, initial revenues of at least $7.9 million, annual costs of $5.5 million, and annual revenues of at least $40.8 million. Local governments are estimated to have annual costs of at least $35,000 and annual revenues of at least $13.8 million.
Fair Ballot Language:
A “yes” vote will amend the Missouri Constitution to remove state prohibitions on the purchase, possession, consumption, use, delivery, manufacture, and sale of marijuana for personal use for adults over the age of 21.
The amendment would also allow individuals with certain marijuana-related offenses to petition for release from prison or parole and probation and have their records expunged; along with imposing a six percent tax on the retail price of recreational marijuana.
A “no” vote will not amend the Missouri Constitution and the sale and use of marijuana for recreational purposes will remain prohibited under current law. Medical marijuana would remain unchanged.
If passed, this measure will impose a 6 percent tax on the retail price of recreational marijuana.
AMENDMENT 4
Official Ballot Title:
Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to authorize laws, passed before December 31, 2026, that increase minimum funding for a police force established by a state board of police commissioners to ensure such police force has additional resources to serve its communities?
State and local governmental entities estimate no additional costs or savings related to this proposal.
Fair Ballot Language:
A “yes” vote will amend the Missouri Constitution to allow the general assembly by law to increase the minimum funding for a police force established by the state board of police commissioners to ensure such police force has additional resources to serve its communities. Currently the only police force established by the state board of police commissioners is found in Kansas City, Missouri.
A “no” vote will not amend the Missouri Constitution regarding the funding for a police force established by the state board of police commissioners.
If passed, this measure will have no impact on taxes.
AMENDMENT 5
Official Ballot Title:
Shall the Missouri National Guard currently under the Missouri Department of Public Safety be its own department, known as the Missouri Department of the National Guard, which shall be required to protect the constitutional rights and civil liberties of Missourians?
State governmental entities estimate no savings and ongoing costs of $132,000 annually. Local governmental entities estimate no costs or savings.
Fair Ballot Language:
A “yes” vote will amend the Missouri Constitution to create the Missouri Department of the National Guard as a new state agency, headed by an adjutant general appointed by and serving at the pleasure of the governor by and with the advice and consent of the senate.
A “no” vote will not amend the Missouri Constitution regarding the National Guard.
If passed, this measure will have no impact on taxes.
Official Ballot Title
Constitutional Convention Question
[Proposed by Article XII, Section 3(a), Missouri Constitution]
Official Ballot Title:
Shall there be a convention to revise and amend the Constitution?
Fair Ballot Language:
A “yes” vote will require the governor to call an election of delegates to serve at a convention for the purpose of revising or amending the Missouri Constitution. Any revisions or amendments will then be put to a vote of the people for their consideration.
A “no” vote will mean no constitutional convention will be held.
If passed, this measure will have no impact on taxes.