Election turnout expected to be marginally higher

Local county clerks say they expect to see a few more voters turn out for the primary election Tuesday, but not many.

Cape Girardeau County Clerk Kara Clark Summers said she based her estimate on numbers from the 2010 and 2012 primaries, where voter turnout was 29 percent and 30 percent, respectively.

"Looking at these [numbers] and looking at what was on the ballot at the time, I'm thinking we'll have about a 33 percent turnout," she said. "We could have more, and I hope we do, but just based on those past primaries, I think it will be a little higher but not by a whole lot."

She also said the number of absentee ballots submitted to her office has increased -- an encouraging sign people are giving more consideration to the election.

Clark Summers' estimate for Cape Girardeau County was nearly identical to that by the Bollinger County clerk. Diane Holzum said she expects 32 percent to 33 percent of registered voters to cast ballots. The August election doesn't typically draw many voters, she said, but five constitutional amendments up for consideration and the three contested county races might bring out a few more people.

Scott County Clerk Rita Milam said via email she expected county turnout to range from 30 percent to 35 percent.

Randy Taylor, Perry County clerk, set his estimate a little higher than the others. He said Perry County was seeing strong numbers in absentee ballots, which were coming in "hot and heavy" in the final days before the election and might be a positive sign. "... I'm thinking we might have 40 percent of our active voters voting," Taylor said.

He said he believes contested county races for treasurer, clerk, recorder of deeds and the circuit judge race will bring out voters.

A recent Associated Press report said statewide, voter turnout is estimated at 27 percent, based on figures collected by the Secretary of State's office from each of Missouri's 116 local election jurisdictions.

Races

Most races in Cape Girardeau County are uncontested, but voters will have to decide the recorder of deeds race. Ward 3 voters in Cape Girardeau also will select a new council member.

Cape Girardeau, Bollinger and Perry Counties will elect one of three candidates as the next judge for Circuit 32, Division 1. The race for associate circuit judge for Division III features two candidates.

Two Democratic candidates face off in the primary for Missouri House District 147.

The position of Delta precinct committeeman is contested, with two candidates.

Perry County has only three contested races, but four seek the county clerk position, while five tossed their hats into the ring for county treasurer's office. Four names also will be on the ballot for recorder of deeds.

In Scott County, two candidates face off for county treasurer. The race for House District 149 features two Democratic and two Republican candidates.

Two Republican candidates also will face off for a state House seat in the 148th District. District 151 voters will vote two times on the state seat in the same election. Ryan Holder and Tila Rowland Hubrecht are the candidates to fill the vacant seat. Voters also will vote in the primary for the new term representative. The two candidates are Hubrecht and Brandon A. Cooper.

Ballot issues

Voters will decide on five amendments on the ballot, which cover issues such as farming, gun rights and a transportation tax.

Cape Girardeau County voters also will be asked whether to support Proposition K, a one-quarter-cent sales tax, to provide services for children and teens 19 years old and younger.

But the decisions voters must make on Tuesday don't stop there. Clark Summers said it's important voters remember since it's a primary, they must choose a ballot for a party. They'll have the option to pick any party or ask for an issues-only ballot.

She also encourages people to follow the right procedures when they pencil in their choices. That means darkening the oval next to the answer, as the directions on the ballot indicate, and not placing an X or a check mark in the oval.

srinehart@semissourian.com

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