Clerk predicts 75 percent turnout in election

With the general election a week away, Phelps County Clerk Carol Bennett predicts 75 percent of the county’s registered voters will turn out Tuesday, Nov. 6, to cast their ballots.

According to Bennett, as of the time the county ordered ballots for this election, there were 28,084 registered voters in Phelps County. That includes inactive voters, such as those who need to update their registration information, Bennett explained.

With three-fourths of the registered voters expected to turn out, that translates to a prediction that 21,063 ballots will be cast.

While there is a low number of local races on the Nov. 6 ballot, Bennett said the presidential race is what will drive people to vote.

“The majority of people turn out for the presidential race,” she said.

In the 2008 presidential election, there were 19,637 ballots cast out of 27,383 registered voters at the time. In that election, the voter turnout rate was 71.71 percent.

As of Monday, Bennett said there have been about 1,520 absentee ballots requested. This Wednesday is the deadline for absentee ballots to be sent out. The county clerk’s office also will be open this Saturday, Nov. 3, from 8 a.m. to noon for absentee balloting.

In order to be counted, absentee ballots must be received in the county clerk’s office, at the Phelps County Courthouse, 200 N. Main St., Rolla, no later than 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 6. Ballots may only be returned by the voter in person or by mail.

Bennett reminded voters that in this election, the ballot has two sides.

“Due to the high turnout and length of the ballot, it is to their (voters’) benefit to become familiar with their ballot ... if they know what's going to be on their ballots, it will help things go a little faster,” she said.

Voters can view a sample ballot based on where they live by visiting www.sos.mo.gov/elections/voterlookup/

By typing in their name and address, registered voters can find their polling place and view a sample ballot. Bennett suggested people study their ballots and the propositions and constitutional amendment for this election.

Bennett also reminded voters in the Rolla Outside South precinct that they will have a new polling place in the Nov. 6 election. Voters in this precinct should report to the Rolla Elks Lodge, 1325 South Bishop Ave. (U.S. Highway 63) for their polling place.

Bennett said the building that served as a former polling place for this precinct is for sale, so the polling place had to be moved.

The polling place in the Rolla Outside South precinct is the only one in the county to have changed since the August primary election.

County races being contested in this election include offices for District Two county commissioner between incumbent Charles L. “Bud” Dean (D) and Gary W. Hicks (R), and sheriff between incumbent Richard L. Lisenbe (D) and Ron Dishman (R).

There is also a local race for the Circuit Judge, Division 2, in the 25th District Circuit Court, between Bill Hickle (R) and Colin Long (D).

The only area state legislature race is for the 62nd District state representative between Greg Stratman (D) and Tom Hurst (R).

There are also races for Eighth District U.S. representative in Congress, U.S. senator from Missouri, governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general, state treasurer, retention of a Supreme Court judge and Southern District Court of Appeals judge as well as the presidential race.

Constitutional Amendment 3 relates to the selection of Supreme Court and Court of Appeals judges in Missouri.

Proposition A relates to the control of law enforcement in the city of St. Louis while Proposition B deals with taxes on cigarettes and other tobacco products in the state.

Proposition E relates to state-based health insurance exchanges.

A complete list of races and ballot issues was published in the Oct. 25 issue of The Rolla Daily News or voters can download a list or races and issues from the county’s website, www.phelpscounty.org, under the Elections tab.