Today's
Feature
Large Turnout
Expected.
A large voter
turnout is expected at Tuesday’s election.
According to County clerk Ron Mosbaugh on Monday,
the number of absentee ballots received by the
clerk office was approximately 1,700.
"It’s
extremely high," said Mosbaugh, adding that
1,200 to 1,300 has previously been considered a
good year.
Mosbaugh said he
felt that the number of well publicized amendment
issues was part of the reason for the turnout of
voters.
This in
conjunction with the number of write-in
candidates running is anticipated to increase the
amount of time required to count the ballots. An
automated machine will sort through all of the
ballots, according to Mosbaugh. On the ballot, to
the right of the selections, an empty space must
be filled in to complete the middle part of an
arrow. The machine will tally votes based on the
placement of the completed arrow lines, and those
marked in the write-in field will be placed aside
for hand-counting. Mosbaugh said he has six teams
on hand to count.
The first count is
to be announced at 8:00 p.m. Mosbaugh said that
the first count will include all of the absentee
ballots, but not the write-ins.
Cannot Post The
Names.
The election
judges for Tuesday’s election were notified
on October 30 that write-in candidate names may
not be displayed on the wall with other election
information. The following is a letter from
County Clerk Ron Mosbaugh to the Judges making
known the procedure changes:
"During our
election judge training session, I informed all
judges to post the names of the write-in
candidates on the wall with all other election
information that was to be posted. I later
learned that this was electioneering. We CANNOT
post the names; statute 115.453(4) RSMO
"The
following procedure will be used:
"You will
receive the names of the two candidates who filed
for Presiding Commissioner as Write-in
Candidates. The Election Judge Supervisor will
keep this list so the voters cannot see it. If a
voter asks if there is a write-in candidate, you
will show them the list. After which, the list
must again be put away. Do Not volunteer this
information.
"Remember,
you cannot tell the voter that there are write-in
candidates or who they are; you can only show
them the list if they ask. It is the
responsibility of the person running for office
to educate the voter, not the election judges.
"Good luck in
the Election and thanks for all your continued
dedication."
Constitutional
Amendment Wording.
There are 4
constitutional amendments and one statutory
measure proposition on the ballot for the General
election, held tomorrow, November 7.
The wording on those amendments is as follows:
Constitutional
Amendment No. 2
"Shall the Missouri Constitution be
amended to allow and set limitations on stem cell
research, therapies, and cures which will:
• ensure Missouri patients have access to
any therapies and cures, and allow Missouri
researchers to conduct any research, permitted
under federal law;
• ban human cloning or attempted cloning;
• require expert medical and public
oversight and annual reports on the nature and
purpose of stem cell research;
• impose criminal and civil penalties for
any violations; and
• prohibit state or local governments from
preventing or discouraging lawful stem cell
research, therapies and cures?
The proposed constitutional amendment would have
an estimated annual fiscal impact on state and
local governments of $0 - $68,916."
Constitutional
Amendment No. 3
"Shall the Missouri Constitution be
amended to create a Healthy Future Trust Fund
which will:
1. be used to reduce and prevent tobacco use, to
increase funding for healthcare access and
treatment for eligible low-income individuals and
Medicaid recipients and to cover administrative
costs;
2. be funded by a tax of four cents per cigarette
and twenty percent on other tobacco products; and
3. be kept separate from general revenue and
annually audited?
Additional taxes of four cents per cigarette and
twenty percent of the manufacturer’s invoice
price on other tobacco products generates an
estimated $351-$499 million annually for tobacco
control programs, healthcare for low income
Missourians and payments for services provided to
Missouri Medicaid beneficiaries and uninsured
Missourians. Local governmental fiscal impact is
unknown."
Constitutional
Amendment No. 6
"Shall the Missouri Constitution be
amended to include a tax exemption for real and
personal property that is used for held
exclusively for nonprofit purposes or activities
of veterans’ organizations?
It is estimated this proposal will have a minimal
cost to state government. The extimated costs to
local government entities range from zero to
approximately $45,000."
Constitutional
Amendment No. 7
"Shall Article XIII, Section 3 of the
Constitution be amended to require that
legislators, statewide elected officials, and
judges forfeit state pensions upon fleony
conviction, removal from office following
impeachment or for misconduct, and to require
that compensation for such persons be set by a
citizens’ commission subject to voter
referendum?
It is estimated this proposal will have no costs
to state or local governments."
Statutory
Measure Proposition B
"Shall Missouri Statutes be amended to
increse the state minimum wage rate to $6.50 per
hour, or to the level of the federal minimum wage
if that is higher, and thereafter adjust the
state minimum wage annually based on changes in
the Consumer Price Inces?
The proposed revisions to Missouri’s wage
rate laws generates an estimated $3.3 million to
$4.3 million annually in state revenue. The
impact in local government is unknown."
Polling Places.
The list of
polling places for Carthage citizens are as
follows;
Ward 1
Grace Episcopal church
820 Howard St.
Ward 2
Carthage Memorial Hall
407 S. Garrison Ave.
Ward 3
First Christian Church Lighthouse
801 S. Main
Ward 4
Church of the Nazarene
2000 Grand Ave.
Ward 5
Fairview Christian Church
2320 S. Grand Ave.
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