The Aug. 6 primary election is officially six weeks away, as absentee voting begins Tuesday, June 25.
Numerous contested statewide and county races and several ballot questions are in the August primary. Johnson County Clerk Diane Thompson reminded voters that the primary is for each party to elect its nominee for the November general election.
“Historically, Johnson County typically has about a 25-27% turnout in primary elections. We’re going back probably 20 years and looking at voter turnout,” Thompson said. “I think that is extremely low – I would love to see more people engaged in the primary election. I know a lot of people don’t like to pick a party, but if there is a candidate they feel strongly about who they want in November, they need to show up in August because they (the candidate) may not show up on the November ballot without every single vote they can get in August.”
Voters will be asked to pick a party ballot. The three established parties in Missouri are Democrat, Republican and Libertarian. There is also a nonpartisan ballot option for voters who only want to vote on issues.
“Choosing that party ballot does not register a voter with that party,” Thompson explained. “They can pick whichever ballot style they want. Picking a ballot does not tie that ballot to their voter record in any way.”
All Missouri voters will be asked to consider Constitutional Amendments 1 and 4. Voters residing in the City of Holden or the Holden School District will see ballot questions for those organizations; the same questions appeared on the April municipal ballot but did not receive a four-sevenths majority to pass. All Johnson County voters will have the opportunity to vote on whether to renew the county’s road and bridge sales tax.
“It funds maintenance of our 1,200 miles of county-maintained roads and hundreds of bridges,” Thompson said of the county ballot question. “We’ve had it since 1984, and it sunsets every five years. We’re extending this one – we’re going to ask voters to pass it for 10 years instead of five. It just seems like it comes around so fast.”
Absentee voting begins June 25 and no-excuse absentee voting begins July 23. It continues through 5 p.m. Aug. 5.
“Until July 23, voters do need to give a reason for absentee voting. The main reasons we usually see are absence from their location on voting day or home confinement due to health,” Thompson said. “Beginning July 23 and going through Monday, Aug. 5, we have no-excuse absentee voting, where a voter can just come in and not have to give a reason at all. They’re ready to vote, don’t want to wait until Election Day. They can come in those last two weeks and vote with no reason needed.”
The last day to register to vote in the August election is July 10. People can change their address even on Election Day if they moved within Johnson County, but anyone who moved from a different county is considered a new registration.
The last day to request a mailed absentee ballot is July 24. The last day to absentee vote is Monday, Aug. 5. The elections office on the second floor of the Johnson County Courthouse, 300 N. Holden St. in Warrensburg, is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. However, absentee voting will be available from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 3.
Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day.
Voters can find their polling location, check if they are registered, and view a sample ballot at jococourthouse.com. To request a mailed sample ballot, contact the elections office. For more information, visit jococourthouse.com or facebook.com/DianeThompsonCountyClerk, call the elections office at 660-747-7414 or email election@jocomo.gov.
Nicole Cooke can be reached at 660-530-0138.
