With several contested races and the renewal of the county's half-cent capital improvements sales tax on the ballot Tuesday, the Cole County clerk is hoping to see a turnout of about 10 percent.
That would be in line with most previous municipal elections, Cole County Clerk Steve Korsmeyer said.
"That's the norm for the April election," Korsmeyer said.
As of Thursday morning, he said 478 absentee ballots had been cast, though he anticipated it to increase slightly as the county continued poll worker training. Since many poll workers do not work the same precinct they vote in, they often have to vote absentee.
Monday is the last day to vote absentee.
Tuesday's election also will have two polling place changes - voters from Ward 5/Precinct 1, who have been voting at The Linc, will return to voting at McClung Park, 931 McClung Park Drive; while voters in Jefferson Township/Expressway Rentals Precinct will vote at River Region Community Room, 501 Broadway St., instead of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church.
Everyone assigned to vote at these locations should have received a new voter ID card in the mail reflecting the changes, Korsmeyer said.
Voters who recently moved within the county or had a name change should fill out voter registration forms with their correct information and bring the forms with them to their new polling locations, Korsmeyer said. Residents can print that form at colecounty.org/455/Address- andor- Name-Change.
"That helps a lot," he said, noting it keeps the line moving faster, as does having a driver's license or voter ID card ready.
As the country is still in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, Korsmeyer said poll workers would continue with sterilization procedures and have hand sanitizer available. While he said he can't require people to wear masks while voting, they are encouraged to do so while continuing to practice social distancing.
Voters can look up their polling location or sample ballots by typing in their addresses at voteroutreach.sos.mo.gov/PRD/VoterOutreach/ VOSearch.aspx. A full list of polling locations in Cole County also can be found at colecounty.org/494/Voting-Locations.
Korsmeyer said anyone unsure of where to vote also can call the clerk's office at 573-634-9101. Sample ballots also may be obtained by calling or visiting the clerk's office at 311 E. High St.
Polls are open from 6 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday.