The Warren County Clerk’s office has been inundated with voters since no-excuse early and absentee voting opened on Oct. 22. According to County Clerk Denise Stotler, roughly 2,500 ballots had already been cast in Warren County as of the afternoon of Oct. 28. 

She continued, saying she expected voter turnout to be as high as 85% in a general election that will decide the next president, along with over 30 other races, ballot measures and judge elections. 

No-excuse early and absentee voting will be open at the County Administration Building until 5:00 p.m. on Nov. 4, the evening preceding the election. County Administration Building will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 30 to Nov. 1, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Nov. 2, and 8:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Nov. 4. 

In order to vote early or in person on the day of the election, voters must have updated and accurate registration, and a valid form of identification that will not be expired by the date of the election.. 

Acceptable forms of identification include a Missouri driver license, a Missouri non-driver license, a U.S. passport, a military ID or veteran’s ID card or any other photo ID issued by the United States or the state of the Missouri provided they are not expired or expired after the date of the most recent general election according to the County Clerk’s website. 

Voters can check their registration and find their polling place on the Secretary of State’s website at https://voteroutreach.sos.mo.gov/portal/. They can also reach out to the County Clerk’s office at 636-456-3331. 

Polling places will be open on the day of the election from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. 

If a voter’s eligibility cannot immediately be determined, they may request a provisional ballot which will be counted if their registration can be confirmed and they are voting at the correct polling place. 

Wright City Fire Protection District Proposition F

Voters within the Wright City Fire Protection District will be voting on Proposition F, an $11 million bond issue that the district would spend on the construction of a new firehouse.              Per state statutes, to pass the bond issue, the district will have to surpass a four-sevenths majority, or 57.14 percent.                                                                                                               If the bond issue passes, the fire district plans to completely replace Station 1 by developing a plot of land on Bell Road that their board purchased roughly 20 years ago into its new headquarters.                                                                                                                              The construction of a new Station 1 would eat up roughly $6.5 million of the bond issue with the remaining $5.5 million divided between improvements to Station 3 on Highway WW and purchasing a new pumper truck.                                                                                                With any remaining funds, MacKnight said they would also like to continue some maintenance work on Station 2 on S. Stracks Church Road and help to pay off the loan for their tanker truck, which was purchased through a different bond issue in 2019.                                                    According to the district website, based on a 20-year financing plan, the bond issue would cost homeowners of a $250,000 home an additional $12.27 a month in taxes.

Unopposed county races

Also on the ballot for Warren County voters are eight county races, all of which are being pursued by republican candidates who are running unopposed.

Current District 1 County Commissioner Matt Flake will be running to retain his seat, Dave Mikus will be running to fill the retiring District 2 County Commissioner Tom Meyer’s seat. 

Kevin Harrison will be running to retain his position as County Sheriff. 

Katie Smith is running to continue as County Assessor. Vickie Vohsen will be running for Public Administrator. Deputy Coroner Jason Sides is running to assume the position of County Coroner and Bart Korman will be running for the position of County Surveyor. 

Circuit 12 Judge Richard Scheibe is running for re-election unopposed as well although he intends to retire. Governor Mike Parson announced on Oct. 25 that he would appoint Jonathan A. Yelton of Jefferson City to fill the vacancy filled by Scheibe’s re-election.