Cole County Clerk Steve Korsmeyer said local election officials are as prepared as possible for the first election to take place since the COVID-19 public health emergency began.
The municipal election, originally scheduled for April 7, was postponed to June 2 - this Tuesday - due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
"I don't think there should be any issues for people that do want to come to the polls and vote," Korsmeyer said.
Cole County voters will not be required to wear masks to vote but may if they want to, he said.
Tables will be positioned at polling places so voters will be able to maintain 6 feet of physical distance, as recommended by the Cole County Health Department.
"If people want to bring their own blue or black ink pen to the poll, that's fine, and they don't have to use ours," Korsmeyer said. "We'll have disinfectant there, so when people sign the poll pad they can use that before and after."
Twenty-three of Cole County's 28 polling places will be open.
Because the Jefferson City School District does not have any issues or a contested school board race, five polling places will not open as there are no issues before those who would normally vote at those locations, Korsmeyer said. Those polling places are Concord Baptist Church, Solid Rock Family Church, Cornerstone Baptist Church, Southridge Baptist Church and Immaculate Conception Catholic Church.
Anyone with questions about the election should call the county clerk's office at 573-634-9101.
Polling locations and other election information can be found online at colecounty.org/clerk.
What's on the ballot?
Primary issues before Cole County voters in the June 2 election, as they apply in various municipalities, include:
Jefferson City Ward 2 councilman, a race between candidates Aaron Mealy, Mike Lester and Gregory A. Butler.
Aaron Mealy is a Jefferson City native who works for the Missouri Department of Social Services and has lived in Ward 2 for about seven years.
Mike Lester has lived in Ward 2 since 2002. Until he retired in 2013, he worked remotely for the Oklahoma Department of Human Services. He has served on the Jefferson City Planning and Zoning Commission since 2009 and has helped develop several city plans including the Capital Area Pedestrian and Bicycle Plan, the Historic Southside/Old Munichburg District and Neighborhood Plan, and the Jefferson City Historic Preservation Plan.
Gregory Butler is a small-business owner in Jefferson City who runs a digital marketing agency. He moved to Jefferson City in 2009 and has lived in Ward 2 for about seven years.
Four proposed changes to the Jefferson City charter.
One charter change would add incapacity as a reason for removal of the mayor and City Council members; specify the mayor can't hold any other city office or city employment; allow for removal of the mayor by a four-fifths majority vote from the council for the same reasons already given for council members including conviction of a felony, failure to attend three consecutive meetings without just cause, or being incapacitated from fulfilling their duties. This change would include a "grandfathering cause" so no current elected or appointed official can lose their office because of a charter change that may disqualify them.
A second change would add language clarifying rules about prohibitions and incompatible offices, stating no former City Council member, mayor, city administrator, city clerk, department director or member of the Parks Commission may hold a compensated, appointive city office or employment until two years after their elected term ends. This would also prohibit the same individuals from being a publicly elected member of the governing body or any political subdivision of the state, member of the Missouri General Assembly or any other statewide office.
A third change would amend the residency requirement of the city clerk, city administrator and city counselor to allow a six-month grace period for a person to move into the city after appointment. The period could be extended for another six months by the City Council if needed.
A fourth change would modify the legislative procedures of the City Council, giving a primary bill sponsor the sole ability to place a bill on the informal calendar, adding to the code current council practices that any member of the council can call for a full reading of a bill, and any council member can request suspension of the rule requiring 96 hours between first reading and final passage of a bill.
Three seats on the Blair Oaks R-2 School District Board of Education, a race between candidates Douglas Moeller, Nicki E. Russell, Jason A. Paulsmeyer and Tina Lear.
Incumbent Doug Moeller has been a farm assistant for Lincoln University for 18 years, and his top issues are supporting students and families to provide the best education for patrons using the lowest tax base possible and building the foundation to support the future workforce.
Incumbent board Treasurer Nicki Russell is chief auditor at the Missouri State Employees' Retirement System. Her top issues are influencing student success, making a positive impact in the community and being committed to the success of the district and its families and the financial soundness of the new high school project.
Jason Paulsmeyer is chief counsel at the Missouri Local Government Employees Retirement System, and his top issues are safely restarting in-person classes and activities in August, completing construction of the new high school and building transitions on time and within the budget, retaining educators and continuing to hire high caliber personnel.
Tina Lear is the national program director for the National Education Progression in Nursing Collaborative, and her top issues are meeting evolving student and family needs to provide the best opportunities possible, responding to and implementing emerging changes in education and delivery models, and monitoring construction of the new high school.
Three three-year terms on the Cole R-1 (Russellville) School District Board of Education, a race between candidates Rodney Edwards, Adam Weber, Aaron Wyss, Elaine Buschjost, Renee Bungart and Ritchie Jenkins; and one one-year term on the Russellville school board, a race between candidates Jenifer Seaver and Jesse Farris.
Incumbent Rodney Edwards is the maintenance manager for Durham School Services and the parent of two students in the district.
Adam Weber is a professional electrical engineer and vice president of operations at Central Electric Power Cooperative.
Aaron Wyss is a loan review officer in the risk management department of Hawthorn Bank.
Elaine Buschjost is a retired Cole R-1 Middle School principal. She owns and operates family farms with her husband and serves on the Child Abuse and Neglect Review Board.
Renee Bungart recently retired from a career in communications at the state Department of Natural Resources, where she worked on environmental issues in Missouri.
Ritchie Jenkins works in information technology for the Missouri Department of Conservation.
Jesse Farris is an electrician for Schneider Electric of Jefferson City.
Jenifer Seaver is the president at Missouri Baptist Credit Union.
Three seats on the Cole R-5 (Eugene) School District Board of Education, a race between candidates Spencer K. Hoskins, Eliza Bond Hinkle, Derek Sommerer and Matt Hale.
Eliza Hinkle is a nurse at Capital Region Medical Center.
Matt Hale is self-employed in construction.
Spencer Hoskins is the manager of the engineering department at Central Electric Power Co-Op.
Derek Sommerer works for ABB, an industrial equipment supplier in Jefferson City.
The Cole R-5 (Eugene) School District's Proposition C Sales Tax Rollback.
Two Lohman alderman positions, a race between candidates Franklin Chapman, Regina Hoffman and David Viles. Scott Soell will also appear on the ballot, but he will be moving out of city limits and therefore will not be able to serve on the board.