Election day

Today Missouri voters will go to the polls and make decisions on a variety of local issues. The following is a brief outline of some of the issues Southeast Missouri voters will see on their ballot.

* A smoking ban for all indoor public places and funding for a new wastewater plant highlight the ballot for Cape Girardeau voters. The smoking ordinance would prohibit smoking in all indoor public places, including restaurants, bars and private clubs, 80 percent of hotel rooms, casinos and within a "reasonable distance of outside entrances." The wastewater issue spans two votes. One question is should the city issue $72 million in bonds to construct the plant. The other question is whether voters support a quarter-cent sales tax to help fund the wastewater treatment plant and other improvements to the sewage system. The sales tax would also help retire bonds.

* Voters in Chaffee will decide whether to approve a half-cent sales tax to improve the storm-water control system and fund city parks operations. Voters will also decide on a quarter-cent sales tax to support the fire department.

* Voters in the Advance School District will be asked to authorize an increase in the property tax levy by 25 cents to $3 per $100 assessed valuation. Administrators in the district say the increase is needed to avoid further staffing cuts.

* The Meadow Heights School District is asking voters to approve a no-tax-increase bond issue which would allow the district to borrow $600,000 to finish energy efficiency improvements, purchase school buses and complete existing facilities' repairs and renovations.

* Mineral Area College is seeking voter approval on an $8 million bond issue without increasing the debt service levy in the school's taxing district. The bonds would be used to make building improvements and renovations. The district includes Perry County.

* School board elections will be held for the Delta, Oak Ridge, Scott City, Oran, Scott County Central, Perryville, Woodland, Meadow Heights, Leopold, Kelly and Advance school districts. Other candidate decisions to be made by voters include the Illmo Special Road District, the Scott City Council, the Oran Board of Aldermen, the NBC Fire District Board, the Perryville Board of Aldermen and the Perry County Public Health Department Board of Directors.

To learn more about these issues and the candidates running, go to semissourian.com/election. Our right to vote is one of the most basic pillars of our democracy. Make sure you get out today and make your voice heard.