Butler County officials completed a public test Tuesday morning of voting equipment, as the region gears up for the Aug. 7 primary election.
More than a dozen county offices across Butler, Carter, Dunklin, Reynolds, Ripley, Stoddard and Wayne counties will see contested races this fall. Winners of the primary election will move on to the Nov. 6 general election.
The Daily American Republic will provide candidate profiles for several of these races this week. Included in today's election coverage is a complete list of races, along with who will be contested only in the primary and which candidates face no challengers.
Area county clerks say early voting is steady in advance of some races that have generated a higher number of candidates, or have seen long-time incumbents retire.
Butler County has received more than 250 absentee ballots, said county clerk Tonyi Deffendall. Long serving office holders for prosecuting attorney, Division 2 judge and treasurer did not file for re-election, opening the door for several newcomers to public office.
Ripley County has seen a surge in early voting, with 127 ballots already cast, compared to 92 four years ago, according to officials there. They say this may not be due only to a race with six candidates for presiding commissioner. The office has stepped up efforts to reach out to individuals with disabilities through an at-home voting program, they say.
All Missouri counties participate in a program that helps the permanently disabled by automatically mailing election information about seven weeks prior to an election, Deffendall said. Individuals can request through a county clerk's office to be placed on the at-home voting list, she said.
Individuals also have until the end of business Wednesday to submit a written request for an absentee ballot to be mailed, Deffendall said. Ballots have to be returned by 7 p.m. Tuesday, she said. Active military can vote through the Friday after the election.
Absentee ballots can be cast at county clerk's offices through 5 p.m. Monday. All offices will also be open from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, prior to the election.
In Stoddard County, about 200 early votes have been cast. There are four Republicans running for presiding commissioner after long time incumbent Greg Mathis chose not to run. With no candidates in the general election, this race will effectively be decided by the primary.
Carter County officials say more than 100 votes have been cast there, as two judge positions, presiding commissioner and circuit and county clerk positions face competition in the primary election.
The deadline to register to vote in the general election is 5 p.m. Oct. 10.