The August special election is now six weeks away, which means absentee voting begins today.
Absentee voting is underway, available for Pettis County citizens who will be unable to vote at their polling place Aug. 8. Pettis County Clerk Nick La Strada’s office at the Pettis County Courthouse is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and it will be open for absentee voting from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5. Citizens also have until Aug. 2 to request an absentee ballot be mailed to them.
There is not typically an August election in an off-election year, but there are three reasons for a special election in Pettis County this year.
“For people wondering why we’re having a special election, it’s due to Mike Parson winning lieutenant governor, then the governor had to call a special election to fill his vacancy in the 28th Senatorial District,” La Strada explained. “The whole county will be eligible to vote for that. For those living in the Dresden School District, they have a run-off election for a tie from the April election. For the Green Ridge School District, they have a bond levy on the ballot.”
The two candidates for the 28th Senate District are Sandy Crawford, a Republican serving as representative for the 128th House District, and Al Skalicky, a Democrat who is new to politics.
Voters who vote absentee at the courthouse or in person at their polling location on Election Day should bring their voter registration card and a photo ID. With the new photo voter ID law now in place in Missouri as of June 1, voters will need to bring a photo ID, but there are options for registered voters without a photo ID.
With the special election, La Strada noted Pettis County will be one of about 52 Missouri counties to implement the new photo voter ID law in 2017, plus Pettis County will be using its new voting equipment purchased earlier this year.
The last day to register to vote in the special election is July 12. Voters can either check online or with La Strada’s office to make sure they are registered in Pettis County and have the correct address listed. Address changes can be made after the registration deadline, but La Strada frequently reminds voters to take care of that change before Election Day to keep lines running smoothly.
Polls will be open 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Election Day. Voters can find their polling location, check to see if they are registered, request a mailed absentee ballot and view a sample ballot at pettiscomo.com.
For more information, visit pettiscomo.com or facebook.com/PettisCountyElectionsOffice or call the Clerk’s office at at 660-826-5000 ext. 918 or La Strada’s cell phone at 660-281-7767.
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