Election season kicks off with absentee voting starting this week

By Kirsten Stokes

Voting season in Buchanan County will officially kick off for some on Tuesday, Feb. 20, as absentee ballots can be cast in person or by mail ahead of the April 2 municipal election.

Ballots can be requested for those who will be out of the county on the day of the election due to religious beliefs or practice, if you are a first responder, a health care worker and other occupations. A full list of those eligible can be found on the county clerk’s website.

“We’ve always had absentee voting, and it usually levels out the same for each election.” Mary Baack-Garvey, Buchanan County Clerk said. “So, this April is going to be a little bit slower in the absentee world, but with no excuse that is the difference. It might pick up a little bit due to that.”

In addition to regular absentee voting, for the second consecutive year, no excuse absentee voting will take place on March 19 in person.

“That means anyone that wants to just come in and get their absentee ballot cast, they don’t need an excuse to have that,” Baack-Garvey said.

Baack-Garvey says ballots are completely safe and are calculated by a bipartisan team.

The ballot includes major questions for voters on April 2, such as a $20 million school bond issue — a non-tax increase measure — to upgrade district facilities and athletics, filling three school board seats, staggered term limits for City Council members and a reduced levy for the Rolling Hills Library.

Sample ballots can be found at www.co.buchanan.mo.us/sample-ballots.