Local voters in line with rest of state ballot issues

Local voters overwhelmingly approved Amendment 3, aimed at preventing new real estate transfer taxes and widely supported by real estate agents.

With 89 percent approval, or 23,748 votes, Cape Girardeau County voters supported the amendment. The ballot garnered 2,927 no votes. As of press time, with 66 percent of Missouri's precincts reporting, Amendment 3 was well ahead with 84 percent of the vote statewide.

Cape Girardeau County voters also approved Amendment 1, requiring all county assessors to be elected, with 19,623 votes in favor and 5,967 votes against the measure. Seventy-six percent of Cape Girardeau voters supported the measure, two percent more than the statewide vote as of press time.

Local voters approved Amendment 2 as well, casting 17,033 for and 9,088 against the measure, for a margin of 65.2 percent to 34.7. Statewide, as of press time, 74 percent of Missouri voters cast ballots in favor of Amendment 1.

Voters were also asked to decide two statewide propositions on Tuesday.

A total of 20,592, or 78 percent, of local voters cast ballots in favor of Proposition A, which could potentially end earnings taxes in Kansas City and St. Louis, while 5,559 people voted against it. As of press time, the earnings amendment received 70 percent approval statewide.

Local voters strongly opposed Proposition B, touted by animal rights groups to end puppy mills. Cape Girardeau County voters cast 16,843 ballots against Proposition B, while 10,153 people voted for the measure. Statewide opposition was also strong on Proposition B, with 53 percent of Missouri voters casting ballots against the measure as of press time.

mmiller@semissourian.com

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