Our November ballot is long and complicated so I reviewed all the ballot initiatives AGAIN thoroughly and altered my recommendations. Voter turnout is expected to double to be please be prepared. I advise taking a photo above of the non-partisan election protection hotline and keep it with you. DO NOT LEAVE A POLLING PLACE WITHOUT VOTING —call the hotline # if you have any voting issues.
1. VIEW YOUR SAMPLE BALLOT BECAUSE IT IS LONG –If you’re registered in St. Louis County, click HERE for your sample ballot. In St. Louis City, click HERE for a generic sample ballot. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS.
2. CHECK YOUR VOTER REGISTRATION AND POLLING PLACE —HERE. Make sure you see your name listed BEFORE YOU GO VOTE and check any potential changes in your polling place. Questions? Call the hotline number above.
3. VOTE ABSENTEE NOW IF YOU WILL BE NOT BE IN YOUR DISTRICT ON ELECTION DAY. I recommend voting absentee in person if you possibly can – Monday – Friday, 8am to 4:30pm.
ST LOUIS COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS: 725 Northwest Plaza St. Ann, MO 63074 (directions). Special office hours Oct 26, Oct 31 & Nov 2: 8am to 5pm and Saturday Oct 27 and Nov 3: 9am to 1pm. COUNTY SATELLITE ELECTION LOCATIONS: Mon – Fri beginning Oct 29, 8am to 4:30pm, Saturday Oct 27 & Nov 3 9am to 1pm
- St. Louis County Gov’t Center West 82 Clarkson Wilson Center Chesterfield, MO 63017 (directions)
- St. Louis County Gov’t Center South 4544 Lemay Ferry Road St. Louis, MO 63129 (directions)
- The Center of Clayton 50 Gay Avenue Clayton, MO 63105 (directions)
St. Louis CITY Board of Elections: 300 N. Tucker, St. Louis, 63101, Mon – Fri 8am to 5pm. HERE for more info.
4. MAIL IN ABSENTEE BALLOTS – Applications must be received by 5pm Wednesday October 31. Family members may also apply for ballots for others. If you are voting absentee by mail, your notarized affidavit envelope, with your voted ballot inside, must be returned to the Election Board no later than 7:00 p.m. TUESDAY NOV. 6TH. The ballot may be returned by the voter in person, through the mail, or by registered carrier or a registered voter’s relative in the 1st or 2nd degree.
MY PERSONAL RECOMMENDATIONS ON BALLOT ISSUES
MISSOURI STATEWIDE PROPOSITIONS
YES on Amendment #1 (also known as CLEAN MISSOURI) = Bans lobbyist gifts to General Assembly, requires open legislative records, lowers campaign contributions & limits committee donations, requires 2 year lobbyist waiting periods and ensures a non-partisan district map process. More info at CleanMissouri.org
YES on Amendment #2 – Medical Marijuana. There are 3 proposals on the ballot, including 2 constitutional amendments. I do not like passing policy via the state constitution but the GOP general assembly stranglehold is also problematic. Amendment 2 is the best proposal (not perfect) with the lowest retail tax so I agree with retired Supreme Court Justice Mike Wolff’s op-ed recommendations.
NO on Amendment #3 – Medical Marijuana. See above.
YES on Amendment #4 – Bingo rules adjustment (passed onto the ballot by the state legislature, this has been debated numerous years in the Capital. To amend the current constitutional provisions re bingo games, this is the only remedy)
YES on Proposition B – Increases the Minimum Wage to $12 by 2023. More info at RaiseUpMO.org and St. Louis Post Dispatch endorsement HERE.
NO on Proposition C – Medical Marijuana. See above.
NO Proposition D – Increases state motor fuel tax for roads. I heartily agree with former Sen. Joan Bray’s St. Louis Post op-ed and will vote NO.
ST. LOUIS COUNTY PROPOSITIONS:
YES on Charter Amendment Proposition 1 – regulation of campaign finance contributions at county level.
YES on Charter Amendment Proposition 2 – requiring voter approval of county park transactions
YES on Charter Amendment Proposition B – regulation of fund transfers within a county department
YES on Charter Amendment Proposition C – to provide a website for certain county financial documents
YES on Charter Amendment Proposition D – enable a Charter Commission to revise the charter
YES on Charter Amendment Proposition E – however, this ballot language has been struck from the ballot.
NO on Charter Amendment Proposition F – would allow for smoking in no more than 50% of casinos.
NO on Proposition Z – county-wide sales tax increase to benefit the St. Louis Zoo – see former Sen. Bray’s op-ed.
REMINDER —YOUR VOTING RECORD IS PUBLIC INFORMATION, not how you vote but if you do.
PLEASE use the power of your vote on Election Day. Our endangered Democracy depends on it.
