It is Election Day, and voters from across the Ozarks, the state of Missouri and the nation are heading to the polls to decide the next President of the United States, along with a number of important races and issues.
Here are the key ballot issues we’ll be following, with Live election night coverage on 93-3 and A-M 560 KWTO from 7pm-midnight:
President of the United States: (A vote for candidates is a vote for their electors): 4 year term
Republican: Donald J. Trump, JD Vance
Democrat: Kamala D. Harris, Tim Walz
Libertarian: Chase Oliver, Mike ter Maat
Green Party: Jill Stein, Rudolph Ware
U-S Senator: (6 year term)
Republican Josh Hawley
Democrat: Lucas Kunce
Libertarian: W.C. Young
The Better Party: Jared Young
Green Party: Nathan Kline
Missouri Governor (4 year term)
Republican: Mike Kehoe
Democrat: Crystal Quade
Libertarian: Bill Slantz
Green Party: Paul Lehmann
Missouri Lieutenant Governor (4 year term)
Republican: Dave Wasinger
Democrat: Richard Brown
Libertarian: Ken Iverson
Green Party: Danielle (Dani) Elliott
Missouri Secretary of State (4 year term)
Republican: Denny Hoskins
Democrat: Barbara Phifer
Libertarian: Carl Herman Freese
Green Party: Jerome Bauer
Missouri State Treasurer (4 year term)
Republican: Vivek Malek
Democrat: Mark Osmack
Libertarian: John A. Hartwig, Jr.
Green Party: Reagan Haase
Missouri Attorney General (4 year term)
Republican: Andrew Bailey
Democrat: Elad Jonathan Gross
Libertarian: Ryan L. Munro
United States Representative (7th District Congressional Seat)
Republican: Eric Burlison
Democrat: Missi Hesketh
Libertarian: Kevin Craig
United States Representative (4th District Congressional Seat)
Republican: Mark Alford (I)
Democrat: Jeanette Cass
Libertarian: Thomas Holbrook
United States Representative (3rd District Congressional Seat)
Republican: Bob Onder
Democrat: Bethany Mann
Libertarian: Jordan Rowden
Green Party: William Hastings
STATEWIDE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS
Amendment 2 (proposed by initiative petition)
Would legalize sports betting in Missouri.
YES—
NO—
Amendment 3: (proposed by initiative petition)
Would allow abortions in Missouri
YES—
NO—
Amendment 5 (proposed by initiative petition)
Would allow construction of a casino on the Osage River
YES—
NO—
Amendment 6 (proposed by General Assembly)
Would continue the practice of recovering some law enforcement costs through court fees
YES—
NO—
Amendment 7 (proposed by General Assembly)
Would ban the use of ranked-choice voting and make the Missouri Constitution consistent with state law by only allowing citizens of the U-S to vote
YES—
NO—
STATEWIDE PROPOSITION:
Statewide Proposition A (proposed by initiative petition)
Would amend state law to increase Missouri’s minimum wage to $15.00/hour by 2026 and require all employers to provide one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked.
YES—
NO—
STATE SENATE AND STATE REPRESENTATIVE CONTESTED RACES
State Representative Races:
District 129:
Republican: John F. Black (Incumbent)
Democrat: Louise Hansen
District 130:
Republican: Bishop Davidson (Incumbent)
Democrat: Leslie Jones
District 131:
Republican: Bill Owen (Incumbent)
Democrat: Ashley Cossins
District 132: (Democrat Crystal Quade, the incumbent, is running for Governor)
Republican: Stephanos Freeman
Democrat: Jeremy Dean
District 133:
Republican: Melanie Stinnett (Incumbent)
Democrat: Derrick Nowlin
District 135:
Republican: Michael Hasty
Democrat: Betsy Fogle (Incumbent)
District 136:
Republican: Jim Robinette
Democrat: Stephanie Hein (Incumbent)
District 137:
Republican: Darin Chappell (Incumbent)
Democrat: Bryce Lockwood
District 139:
Republican: Bob Titus (Incumbent)
Democrat: Mark Gray
District 140:
Republican: Jamie Ray Gragg (incumbent)
Democrat: Julia Curran
District 141:
Republican: Melissa Schmidt
Democrat: Michael Bates
State Senate Contested Race:
District 29: (Barry, Christian, Lawrence, McDonald Counties)
Republican: Mike Moon (Incumbent)
Democrat: Ron Monnig
Greene County Contested Race:
2nd District County Commissioner:
Republican: John Russell (Incumbent)
Democrat: Tim McGrady
Christian County Contested Races:
Eastern District Commissioner:
Republican: Bradley Alan Jackson
Democrat: David A. Krewson
Western District Commissioner:
Republican: Johnny Williams
Democrat: Sheila E. Michaels
Christian County Coroner:
Republican: Mandi Yoder-Armitage
Libertarian: Danielle Gerstenschlager
LOCAL MONEY ISSUES ON THE BALLOT:
City of Springfield Question 1:
Springfield voters are deciding on whether to replace the city’s expiring ¾ cent sales tax, which since 2009 has funded a shortfall in the city’s police and fire pension fund. A new combination of taxes would provide money for a wider variety of issues. A yes vote would enact the tax, which includes a ¼-cent portion that would become permanent, funding the remaining pension obligation as well as public safety. The remaining ½-cent portion would sunset in 10 years, providing funds for “projects consistent with the city’s comprehensive plan, to include capital improvements, community and neighborhood initiatives, and park projects. The tax is estimated to generate about $45 million a year for the city.
YES—
NO—
Webster County Proposition 1:
Would exempt seniors 62 and older from certain increases in property tax liability
YES—
NO—
Polk County Proposition 2:
Would exempt seniors 62 and older from increases in property tax liability
YES—
NO—
Marionville R-IX School District Bond Election: Proposition K.I.D.S. (Note: 4/7ths majority required for passage)
Voters are being asked to decide if the district should, without an estimated increase in the debt service property tax levy, borrow $4.3 million to provide funds for building an Early Childhood Center, and complete safety and security upgrades at the K-8 campus building and build baseball and softball complexes at the high school, plus other repairs and improvements in the district.
YES—
NO—
USE TAX BALLOT ISSUES
Background: Use tax is imposed on the use, storage or consumption of tangible personal property shipped into Missouri from out of state. The state use tax rate is also imposed at a rate of 4.225%. In addition, cities and counties may impose local use tax.
Douglas County Question (Use tax measure)
YES—
NO—
Polk County Proposition 1: (Use tax measure)
YES—
NO—
Wright County Question: (Use tax measure)
YES—
NO—
Village of Saddlebrook Proposition U (Use tax measure)
YES—
NO—
City of Morrisville Proposition 1 and 2
If approved by voters, ball Propositions 1 and 2 would both increase the sales tax by .5%. Combined, if passed, it would increase the city sales tax rate from 2% to 3%. Funds would go toward capital improvements, city as city building, replacing stop signs, fixing culverts, etc. Mayor Dustin Kessler says if passed, the tax levy that is established annually for property taxes would be set to zero. Proposition 2, if passed, would take money collected from the sales tax and put it toward transportation purposes.
Proposition 1:
YES—
NO—
Proposition 2:
YES—
NO—
Village of Indian Point Proposition A:
Property tax of 50 cents per $100 assessed value for all real and personal property within the Village
YES—
NO—
City of Sarcoxie Question:
Should the city discontinue the addition of fluoride as a treatment of the city’s water system?
YES—
NO—
City of Mansfield Question:
City sales tax of one half of 1% for police department purposes
YES—
NO—
