Last chance to register to vote in April election falls on Wednesday

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- April’s general municipal election takes place in less than a month, and anyone wanting to vote has until Wednesday to register for it.

St. Joseph residents will head to the polls on April 8 to vote for two school board members and to approve or deny a 60-cent property tax levy, known as Proposition 2, which covers the school district's plans to move to a new two-high school model.

Voter registration can be completed online, but Buchanan County Clerk Mary Baack-Garvey said signing up in person is often easier because staff can verify information and ensure it’s accurate.

“They need to show a form of I.D., and if they want to come in person, that's what I recommend the most,” she said. “They know their documentation is here, and we have it filed.”

Baack-Garvey said voter turnout averages between 20% and 30% for April elections. Presidential elections see more participation and usually require more judges, but the Buchanan County Clerk’s Office prepares the same way for all elections.

“I treat them all with the same integrity because they are elections, and they are important,” she said.

St. Joseph resident Nileeta Sharp said she never misses an opportunity to vote.

“It’s an American privilege too because people fought and died to get the privilege to vote,” she said. “So why wouldn’t you want to vote?”

An election summary report from the April 2024 municipal election showed that 22.54% of registered voters cast a ballot.

“I always want the local elections to be a higher turnout,” Baack-Garvey said. “That affects you more personally when you live here.”

Sample ballots for the April 8 election this year can be found at co.buchanan.mo.us/sample-ballots-0.