Primary absentee voting opens Tuesday

Absentee voting for the Feb. 7 presidential preference primary opens Tuesday, though the Republican winner will take away little more than bragging rights — and no delegates — in balloting expected to cost the state at least $4 million.

Though the state will ultimately refund the costs of the February election, Pettis County coffers will still be tapped for just under $60,000 to hold the election, according to County Clerk Nick La Strada.

La Strada said voter turnout in 2008 was at 28 percent, but with GOP delegates now being chosen through party caucuses, beginning at the county level on March 17, clerks across the state are having a difficult time estimating turnout.

“We are expecting maybe between 12 and 15 percent,” La Strada said. “But with the change to a caucus, we really have no idea who will choose to show up.”

With only token opposition on the Democratic ticket of President Barack Obama, there were few questions as to outcome on that side of the aisle.

In addition to Obama, self-identified Democrats may choose from Randall Terry, Darcy G. Richardson and John Wolfe on Feb. 7.

Voting would likely have proved more contentious on the Republican side as a revolving door of front-runners vying to go up against Obama/Joseph Biden in November begin the official primary season battle for delegates to the August  national convention in Tampa, Fla.

Certified candidates for self-identified Republicans will be Gary Johnson, Herman Cain, Mitt Romney, Michael Meehan, Rick Perry, Keith Drummond, Jon Huntsman, Michele Bachmann, Rick Santorum and Ron Paul.

However, Johnson, the former governor of New Mexico, has since left the GOP field and will seek office as a Libertarian. Also, onetime GOP favorite Herman Cain has since suspended his presidential campaign after allegations of sexual harassment and a possible extramarital affair.

Also, current GOP front-runner and former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich will not appear on the ballot, and told reporters at an early December press conference in New York that Missouri’s February election amounts to little more than a “beauty contest.”

“The Missouri primary doesn’t have any delegates attached to it,” Gingrich was reported as saying. “And so this was a conscious decision; this was not an oversight.”

There is no certified Constitution Party candidate on the ballot, and Libertarian Party candidate James Orland Ogle III is unopposed as the only certified candidate on his party’s Feb. 7 ballot.

After a chaotic battle among states racing to shift the primary calendar away from traditional first contests in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada, Democratic and Republican party leaders threatened to cut in half the number of state delegates to the national conventions if other states staged their contests before March 6.

Legislation to reset Missouri’s date passed the Missouri General Assembly during its regular session, but was vetoed by Gov. Jay Nixon over unrelated provisions included in the bill.

Lawmakers in the Republican-dominated statehouse failed to override the veto, then were also unable to agree upon legislation moving the primary date during a special session that fell apart as factions within the party battled over a range of issues that many had assumed would see easy resolution.

After the end of the special session, state Republican Party leaders agreed to “unbind the delegates from the primary,” meaning the February election will have no bearing on the selection of delegates.

State Democratic Party officials said in November they will still select delegates via the primary and will seek a waiver from the national party to avoid the penalty and retain all of their delegates to the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C., during the week of Sept. 3.

However, state officials from both parties, including Secretary of State Robin Carnahan, a Democrat, and state Auditor Tom Schweich, a Republican, have expressed support for the February vote and others have suggested a strong showing by candidates on the Republican ticket could be an indication of voters’ will for who is the best choice to challenge Obama in November.

Pettis Countians who wish to cast a ballot in February have until Jan. 11 to register to vote. Overseas military ballots were mailed before Christmas, and absentee voters may cast their vote at the clerk’s office beginning Tuesday and running through 5 p.m. Feb. 6.

The clerk’s office also will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Feb. 4 for in-person absentee voting.

In-person absentee voters need their Voter Identification Card or another form of ID, such as a driver’s license or utility bill with their current address. If the ID does not have the voter’s current address, the voter also may bring a document, such as a water bill or other mail, that includes their name and current address.

Voters in Sedalia who vote on Election Day also may be casting their votes in a new polling place after the consolidation of election sites this year. Voters in Ward 1, Precinct 2 will now vote at Convention Hall. Voters in Ward 3, Precinct 1 will now vote at New Hope Baptist Church.

People with questions about voting or the Feb. 7 primary may contact the clerk’s office at 826-5000, ext. 918.