ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. – Voters across St. Louis County are preparing to go to the polls for the November general election. As no-excuse absentee voting begins Oct. 22, voters may still be unfamiliar with county-specific items on their ballot.
This is a guide for voters within St. Louis County. You can see your sample ballot here.
Ballots are 22 inches long, covered front and back with amendments, judges, presidential choices, and other issues. Many election officials are recommending voters vote absentee as it will take extra time to fill out the ballot, creating longer lines of waiting on Nov. 5.
Proposition A
Proposition A involves the St. Louis County Port Authority Board of Commissioners, which is the board that focuses on industrial facilities and parks within the port district as well as promoting a foreign trade zone within the port.
The proposition essentially proposes that if a spot were to become vacant on the St. Louis County Port Authority Board of Commissioners, the county councilmember in the respective district as the vacancy will appoint someone to the position, rather than the county executive making the decision.
“Shall Section 2.190 of the Charter of St. Louis County be amended to require vacancies on the St. Louis County Port Authority Board of Commissioners be filled in the following manner: that the Port Authority Board of Commissioners shall be comprised of seven members with each member residing in a different council district than all other members; the councilmember representing the council district in which a vacancy occurs on the Port Authority Board of Commissioners shall nominate a person residing in their respective district to serve as a member of the Port Authority Board of Commissioners; and, such nominee shall serve upon approval of the nomination by a majority of the county council, as set forth in Exhibit A of Ordinance No. 29,059, on file with the St. Louis County Administrative Director and the St. Louis County Board of Election Commissioners?“
A “yes” vote would approve of the county council receiving the power to fill a vacancy in the respective district.
A “no” vote would deny the county council of this power and grant the continuation for the county executive to appoint the position.
Proposition C
Proposition C is another amendment that would rearrange roles between the council and the county executive. It currently involves legal services that are provided by the county counselor, who works directly under the county executive.
The council is asking voters to separate these services and receive their own legal team to preserve independence from the county executive in a legal matter. The amendment on the ballot reads as follows:
“Shall Sections 5.010, 5.020, and 5.030 of the Charter of St. Louis County be amended to authorize the St. Louis County Council to retain legal counsel for certain purposes; to preserve separation of powers, legal counsel retained by the Council as authorized by this amendment shall not report to the County Counselor who serves at the pleasure of the County Executive as set forth in Exhibit A of Ordinance No. 29,110, on file with the St. Louis County Administrative Director and the St. Louis County Board of Election Commissioners? The cost of the legal counsel authorized if this amendment passes has no fiscal impact on taxes.”
A “yes” vote on this amendment is in favor of the county council receiving a separate legal team rather than from the county counselor, who works directly with the county executive.
A “no” vote would reject the amendment and keep the legal counsel provided by the county counselor who works directly with the county executive.
Proposition O
Proposition O entails on when officials within the county are sworn into their terms. If it is passed, it would create a consistent date on when the county council, county executive, prosecuting attorney, and the assessor would begin their term.
The following is how the proposition will be presented to voters:
“Shall Sections 2.040, 3.010, 5.040, and 6.050 of the Charter of St. Louis County be amended to provide for terms of office for members of the County Council, the County Executive, the Prosecuting Attorney, and the Assessor to commence on the first Tuesday in January following said elected official’s election, as set forth in Exhibit A of Ordinance No. 29,091, on file with the St. Louis County Administrative Director and the St. Louis County Board of Election Commissioners?”
A “yes” vote on Proposition O favors all of the aforementioned officials to be sworn in at the same time following an election.
A “no” vote opposes the above county officials to be sworn in at the same time following an election.
Judges
The St. Louis County ballot holds 24 judges up for re-election. This includes in circuit courts, the Eastern District Court of Appeals, and the Missouri Supreme Court.
Click here for details on each judge.
Other topics on the ballot
Beyond the county propositions and judges on the ballot, voters will also see statewide amendments, propositions, and races for different positions.
To learn more on each issue, click on the links below.
Race for Governor
Race for Lieutenant Governor
Race for Secretary of State
Race for State Treasurer
Reagan Haase
Race for Attorney General
