Upcoming Municipal Election Postponed To June 2
March 26, 2020
The Municipal Election has been postponed to June 2 due to COVID-19
Isaac Estes-Jones
The municipal election originally scheduled for April 7 has been postponed until June 2, according to the Missouri Secretary of State and confirmed by the Stone County Clerk’s office. The state decided to change the election on Wednesday, March 18. The move came after a State of Emergency was declared by Governor Parson, citing concerns about the spread and impact of COVID-19.
“The state is doing this out of an abundance of caution and concern for the public and for our poll workers, many of whom are at an age vulnerable to the virus,” said Cindy Elmore, Stone County Clerk.
Absentee voting for the election was already underway when the postponement was announced and will continue until the election is held.
The last day to mail out an absentee ballot is May 20. The clerk’s office must have a written request in order to mail a ballot, per state statute. A request form is available at https://stonecountyclerk.com.
According to a press release from the Stone County Clerk’s office, “Absentee voting is provided for those people that want to avoid crowds at the polling location, that have a compromised immune system or who are in a high-risk age group for the Corona Virus [sic]. Also, those who will be absent on Election Day, including physically disabled voters, caretakers of a physically disabled person, or employment as an election authority at a location other than your polling place.”
Impact on races
According to executive order 20-03, all officers currently in office will remain in that office until successors are elected.
The Stone County Clerk’s office has worked to contact all candidates for each race on the municipal ballot by both mail and email. “We are also contacting all of the municipalities to let them know what is happening and how things are changing,” said Elmore.
Crane School District was set to have at least one change to their school board with current memeber Tim Thomas not seeking reelection. According to Dr. Chris Johnson, Crane superintendent, “We usually swear in new members the same month as the election. I’ve received confirmation that all current members will continue until the election is held.”
Crane Mayor Collin Brannan and city clerk Beth Murphy also confirmed Crane’s Board of Aldermen will have the same members until an election is held.
However, the Governor’s order does not remove the right of any member of a public body from resigning.
Other Impacts
The Governor’s executive order goes on to specify how the state will handle registration and printed ballots.
Per the order, the minimum age to vote will still be determined as of April 7. Young people turning 18 between April 8 and June 2 will not be able to vote in this year’s municipal election.
Additionally, all paper ballots already printed with the April date will be used when the election is held.
While 2020 is an election year for the nation, Stone County Clerk Cindy Elmore does not anticipate the delay of the municipal election to impact any of the other elections schedule for this year.
The municipal election originally scheduled for April 7 has been postponed until June 2, according to the Missouri Secretary of State and confirmed by the Stone County Clerk’s office. The state decided to change the election on Wednesday, March 18. The move came after a State of Emergency was declared by Governor Parson, citing concerns about the spread and impact of COVID-19.
“The state is doing this out of an abundance of caution and concern for the public and for our poll workers, many of whom are at an age vulnerable to the virus,” said Cindy Elmore, Stone County Clerk.
Absentee voting for the election was already underway when the postponement was announced and will continue until the election is held.
The last day to mail out an absentee ballot is May 20. The clerk’s office must have a written request in order to mail a ballot, per state statute. A request form is available at https://stonecountyclerk.com.
According to a press release from the Stone County Clerk’s office, “Absentee voting is provided for those people that want to avoid crowds at the polling location, that have a compromised immune system or who are in a high-risk age group for the Corona Virus [sic]. Also, those who will be absent on Election Day, including physically disabled voters, caretakers of a physically disabled person, or employment as an election authority at a location other than your polling place.”
Impact on races
According to executive order 20-03, all officers currently in office will remain in that office until successors are elected.
The Stone County Clerk’s office has worked to contact all candidates for each race on the municipal ballot by both mail and email. “We are also contacting all of the municipalities to let them know what is happening and how things are changing,” said Elmore.
Crane School District was set to have at least one change to their school board with current memeber Tim Thomas not seeking reelection. According to Dr. Chris Johnson, Crane superintendent, “We usually swear in new members the same month as the election. I’ve received confirmation that all current members will continue until the election is held.”
Crane Mayor Collin Brannan and city clerk Beth Murphy also confirmed Crane’s Board of Aldermen will have the same members until an election is held.
However, the Governor’s order does not remove the right of any member of a public body from resigning.
Other Impacts
The Governor’s executive order goes on to specify how the state will handle registration and printed ballots.
Per the order, the minimum age to vote will still be determined as of April 7. Young people turning 18 between April 8 and June 2 will not be able to vote in this year’s municipal election.
Additionally, all paper ballots already printed with the April date will be used when the election is held.
While 2020 is an election year for the nation, Stone County Clerk Cindy Elmore does not anticipate the delay of the municipal election to impact any of the other elections schedule for this year.