Pettis County Clerk Nick La Strada is hoping for a high turnout in Tuesday’s primary election.
La Strada said registered voter turnout has been slowly increasing since he took office. It’s gone from the mid-teens in 2006 to the mid-20s in 2010 to nearly 34% in 2020.
During the 2020 primary election, which was a presidential year, La Strada said turnout was 33.89%. Four years ago, the last midterm primary election, turnout was 28.8%. In 2014, a ballot that saw several heavily contested county races, turnout was 29.66%.
“With this being a unique (election), being the fact this is a redistricting year, open seats with U.S. Senate, with Congress, and a contested race on the Republican ticket for presiding commissioner, a lot of people are excited and intrigued with this one,” La Strada said of Tuesday’s election.
Absentee voting has been at a steady pace over the last six weeks. La Strada said his office saw roughly 50 in-person voters both Thursday and Friday. He said it’s possible that 2022 could mark the highest midterm primary election turnout yet in Pettis County. He’s predicting 36-37% voter turnout, although he’d “love” to see 40%, which would mean more than 9,000 voters.
“There are still people who are waiting (to vote on Election Day) because many are still undecided. There’s a lot (of candidates), there’s open seats, dealing with redistricting,” La Strada said. “... The trend is clearly going up. Voter awareness has increased since I’ve taken office. More and more people are getting intrigued.”
La Strada reminded voters that they must pick a political party ballot on Tuesday: Republican, Democrat, Libertarian or Constitution Party.
“Just because you pick that political party does not mean you are affiliated with it, you just have to pick a party ballot under Missouri law,” he added.
This will be the first election with the Clerk’s Office in its new home at 215 E. Fifth St. in Sedalia, across from the Pettis County Courthouse. La Strada said he’s received lots of positive feedback from voters about the new space, especially comments about the improved accessibility since there are no longer any stairs to climb.
The last day to register to vote in the August election has passed. People can change their address even on Election Day if they moved within Pettis County, but anyone who moved from a different county is considered a new registration.
Absentee voting is available from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, July 30 at the Pettis County Courthouse. The last day to absentee vote is 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Aug. 1.
Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day. Voters can find their polling location, check to see if they are registered, and view a sample ballot at pettisclerk.com. For more information, visit pettisclerk.com or facebook.com/PettisCountyElectionsOffice or call the Clerk’s office at 660-826-5000 ext. 918 or La Strada’s cellphone at 660-281-7767
The following candidates and issues will be on Pettis County ballots, although ballots will vary depending on where a voter lives.
U.S. Senate
Republican: Patrick A. Lewis, Eric Schmitt, Billy Long, Eric Greitens,
Bernie Mowinski, C.W. Gardner, Deshon Porter, Vicky Hartzler, Dave Sims, Mark McCloskey, Eric McElroy, Dennis Lee Chilton, Robert Allen, Dave Schatz, Hartford Tunnell, Kevin C. Schepers, Rickey Joiner, Robert Olson, Russel Pealer Breyfogle Jr., Darrell Leon McClanahan III, and Curtis D. Vaughn.
Democrat: Lewis Rolen, Gena Ross, Carla Coffee Wright, Josh Shipp, Spencer Toder, Lucas Kunce, Jewel Kelly, Clarence (Clay) Taylor, Pat Kelly, Trudy Busch Valentine, and Ronald (Ron) William Harris.
Libertarian: Jonathan Dine
Constitution Party: Paul Venable
Missouri Auditor
Republican: David Gregory and Scott Fitzpatrick.
Democrat: Alan Green
Libertarian: John A. Hartwig Jr.
U.S. House District 4
Republican: Jim Campbell, Rick Brattin, William (Bill) Irwin, Mark Alford, Kalena Bruce, Taylor Burks, and Kyle Stonner LaBrue.
Democrat: Jack Truman
Libertarian: Randy Langkraehr
Republican: Rodger Reedy (incumbent) and James Mahlon White
Libertarian: William Truman (Bill) Wayne
Republican: Sandy Crawford (incumbent), Bill Yarberry and Janet Arnold
State House District 52
Republican: Brad Pollitt (incumbent)
Democrat: Rene Vance
Pettis County Presiding Commissioner
Republicans: David Dick (incumbent), Bill Taylor and Diedrick Kahrs
