Small turnout expected Tuesday for Jefferson City sales tax vote

Jon Freeland, secretary for the Cole County Democratic Club, can be seen marking his ballot Tuesday, June 5, 2020. About 45 registered voters in the Ward 4, Precinct 1 polling place, located inside Our Savior's Lutheran Church on Southwest Boulevard, had cast their ballot in the municipal election by 9:15 a.m.
Jon Freeland, secretary for the Cole County Democratic Club, can be seen marking his ballot Tuesday, June 5, 2020. About 45 registered voters in the Ward 4, Precinct 1 polling place, located inside Our Savior's Lutheran Church on Southwest Boulevard, had cast their ballot in the municipal election by 9:15 a.m.

Cole County officials are expecting a 5 percent turnout for Tuesday's special city election.

Matt Musselman, with the County Clerk's Office, said there hasn't been a special election for quite some time, "so it's hard to compare it to other things."

The only thing on the ballot is Jefferson City's half-cent capital improvements sales tax.

He said more than 270 people participated in early voting.

Citizens for Proposition 1, the committee in support of the ballot measure, received $10,000 from the Civic Progress program through the Jefferson City Chamber of Commerce. As of July 22, it's used $483 for printing signs.

Sales tax funds go toward projects around Jefferson City such as sidewalks, road repairs and cooperative projects with Cole County. It is projected to bring in $5.6 million annually over the tax's five-year span for a total of $28 million. This will be its seventh five-year cycle if approved.

Polls will be open 6 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday. Polling locations can be found at colecounty.org.

Ward 2, First Precinct voters who will be casting votes at the Miller Performing Arts Center, 501 Madison St., will be unable to park at the center because its parking lot is being resurfaced. Voters will be able to park at Regions Bank, between the bank and Capital City Music.

Voters from Ward 5, Second Precinct will enter the American Legion Post 5, 1423 Tanner Bridge Road, through a different door because the building is being renovated. Voters will enter at the mural door and vote in the meeting room immediately to the right.

Musselman said there are no plans for specific COVID-19 precautions at polling locations.

"At this point, we feel like people are used to the precautions of keeping your distance, and if people are comfortable not wearing a mask, that's up to them or wearing a mask that's up to them," he said. "It would be nice to still social distance and to be smart about things."

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