The 2018 general municipal elections are coming up next week. On April 3, voters in Cape and Scott counties will be deciding on several questions and propositions on their ballots.
In the city of Cape Girardeau, one proposition discusses extending the city’s existing sales tax to fund improvements to their trail system, city parks, and water park for the next 15 years. Only one city council seat is contested, with Shelly Moore and Scott A. Johnson each running for Ward 2. Mayor Harry Rediger, at the end of his term, will be leaving office next month. Bob Fox is the only candidate running for mayor.
In Jackson, one ballot question pertains to a city-wide sales tax for public safety improvements. For the Oak Ridge R-VI School District, one proposition on the ballot asks voters about their Board of Education borrowing over $2 million for the development of various school facilities, without an increase in the current debt service property tax levy.
Scott County’s ballot contains many propositions pertaining to board of Education directors for the school districts of Chaffee R-2, Scott County R-1, Scott and Mississippi R-IV Counties, Scott County Central, and Kelso C-7. One question for the village of Diehlstadt proposes doing without municipal elections for 6 years if the number of candidates equals the number of positions in their respective offices.
Scott County Clerk, Rita Milam, says voter turnout is typically low for April elections in her county.
“You know, some districts in April are going to have a bigger turnout because they have more issues on the ballot," says Milam. “But, we’re lucky if we get a 10% turnout.”
Milam says general municipal elections should be of high importance due to their local impact.
These are the first elections since the new voter photo ID law, Show It 2 Vote went into effect last year. Under this law, voters are required to bring a valid photo ID to the polls, but offers them with other options if they fail to do so.
For polling locations in Cape County, visit: http://www.capecounty.us/Polling%20locations%20and%20hours.aspx
For polling locations in Scott County, visit: http://www.scottcountymo.com/co-elections.php
For polling locations in Perry County, visit: https://perrycountymo.us/107/Elections
For more information on Show It 2 Vote, visit https://www.sos.mo.gov/showit2vote.