Voters approve forgoing uncontested elections in small towns

Becoming a member of a municipal board just became a little easier in several small Southeast Missouri towns, as voters Tuesday approved forgoing yearly elections for uncontested seats.

In Cape Girardeau County, voters in Allenville, Gordonville, Oak Ridge, Pocahontas and Whitewater approved no longer holding annual municipal elections when the number of candidates who file for a particular office equals the number of positions to be filled. Scott County voters in Lambert and Morley also approved the change.

A change in state law in 2014 allowed cities, towns or villages with populations of 1,000 or fewer to stop putting uncontested races on the ballot if voters approved a related ordinance.

An option that also will go away when the new ordinances take effect will be for voters to write in candidates.

Small towns often spend money on election-related expenses without enough interest from candidates to place more than one name for one seat on a ballot.

Few votes -- from seven in one precinct to about 50 in other precincts -- were cast on the questions in Tuesday's elections, but all passed with more than 65 percent approval or higher.

The question did not appear on the ballot in any municipalities in Bollinger or Perry counties.

The ordinances will remain in effect for six years, at which time voters again can decide whether to keep discontinuing uncontested municipal elections or go back to holding them each year.

The ordinances also will require election authorities to publish notices with the names of the candidates assuming the office when no elections are held.

eragan@semissourian.com

388-3632

Pertinent address:

Gordonville, Mo.

Allenville, Mo.

Oak Ridge, Mo.

Pocahontas, Mo.

Whitewater, Mo.

Lambert, Mo.

Morley, Mo.