With nearly half of the county offices contested, next week’s primary election has a plenty of candidates for voters to choose from.

Polls will be open Tuesday, Aug. 3, from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Absentee ballots can be filled out up to 5 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 2, at the county clerk’s office in Warrenton. The clerk’s office also will be open this Saturday from 8 a.m.-noon for absentee voters.

County Clerk Barb Daly, who is one of four county officeholders who is running unopposed on next week’s ballot, noted that interest is high for next week’s election. She is estimating the local turnout to be between 25 and 30 percent.

On Tuesday, Secretary of State Robin Carnahan announced her statewide prediction to be 24 percent. In a release, the countywide prediction was 29 percent.

“There are quite a few races of local interest this year,” Daly said.

Voters are required to show some sort of identification when they vote. Daly noted that the most popular forms are a driver’s license or voter registration card.

Election results are expected to be published on the county’s Web site at www.warrencountymo.org on Aug. 3.

County Races

Three candidates are vying for presiding commissioner. Incumbent Arden Engelage will square off against former Southern District Commissioner Randy Lewis and Tom Hoeft.

The circuit clerk’s race features a battle between incumbent Jerri Jordan and a member of her staff, Brenda Eggering. Meg Lefferdink’s name also will appear on the ballot, though she announced last week she was withdrawing from the race.

For treasurer, Republican incumbent Gene Cornell will run against Jackie Stewart.

Five candidates have filed for recorder of deeds, a new position created when the county commission voted last year to separate the duties from the circuit clerk. Deborah Engemann, Linda Gant and Lynn Bernard are running for the Republican nomination, while Stuart Schwartz and Michelle Walch will battle for the Democratic nomination.

The two winners will face one another in the November general election.