With the election approaching, the Callaway County Clerk's Office is working to ensure everyone - even those currently quarantined or isolated due to COVID-19 - can vote safely.
"Have patience and a kind attitude - our judges are really working hard," urged Kathie Ratliff, Callaway County's chief deputy clerk. "Election day is just going to be busy."
According to Ratliff, the clerk's office has planned how to handle voters who may have been exposed to COVID-19 and those who are currently infected with the disease.
"We've had a lot of calls," Ratliff said.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends anyone who tests positive or develops symptoms of COVID-19 should self-isolate for at least 10 days. Those currently isolating can call the Callaway County Clerk's office to set up a time to vote. On election day, they can park outside the Callaway County Courthouse at the appointed time, and an election judge will come out and help them vote through their car window, Ratliff said.
"We've set up special times to encourage voters who are in (isolation) to come to the courthouse," Ratliff said. "We'd like to go to their homes but there's not enough staff to handle it."
Those who are just quarantining - which the CDC recommends people do for 14 days after being in close contact with a positive case of the virus - can instead go to their usual polling place and request curbside assistance, she said. Many Callaway County polling locations will have greeters directing voters and helping maintain social distancing. A voter who needs curbside assistance can speak to a greeter or ask another voter who's heading inside to notify poll workers there's someone outside who needs help, she said.
According to Ratliff, a number of safety measures will be in place at all polling locations, including regular wipe-downs of high-touch surfaces, plastic shields at the check-in tables and floor-markings to encourage social distancing. Poll workers are not being required to wear masks, she said.
Last week, the CDC released tips for voters aimed at reducing the risk of spreading or catching COVID-19 while voting during Tuesday's general election. The CDC suggests those voting in person should bring their own supplies: a mask (and a spare), hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol, a water bottle and a black ink pen.
Even those wearing masks - which the CDC strongly recommends - should stay at least 6 feet from others whenever possible. The CDC suggests washing your hands or using hand sanitizer before and after entering the polling place, and after touching things like voting machines or door handles.
These suggestions may be especially important at a time when COVID-19 cases are on the rise both locally and nationally. Active COVID-19 cases in Callaway County topped 300 for the first time Wednesday, and the total number of those exposed may be much higher. Those who have recovered from COVID-19 can safely be around others if it's been at least 10 days since symptoms first appeared and 24 hours with no fever without using fever-reducing medications, the CDC states.
Voters may look up their polling location here (bit.ly/3jIbFAi).
For those who lack a car, both the Fulton NAACP and SERVE, Inc. are offering free lifts Tuesday. To arrange a free ride with the NAACP, call 573-230-3488. SERVE transportation must receive requests for rides by 3 p.m. the day prior to the election at 573-826-3939. Email [email protected] for additional information.
Those not voting in person still have time to turn in absentee ballots (though the deadline to request an absentee ballot passed on Oct. 21) - Ratliff recommends doing so in person. Those may be submitted at the Callaway County Clerk's office until 5 p.m. the day before the election.
"We're all wearing masks, we have a limited number of voters in the office, so when you're absentee voting in person it takes maybe a few more minutes than it did during previous elections," she said. "We're sanitizing the pens and counters."
Missouri's mail-in ballots may only be turned in via mail. However, according to Ratliff, a voter who hasn't yet mailed in their ballot and is concerned about it arriving in time can instead vote in person. She asked anyone who does so to bring the mail-in ballot along so it can be properly disposed of.
The ballot
Knowing what's on the ballot and how you plan to vote will speed the voting process for everyone Tuesday. Much more is on the ballot than just the presidential race between incumbent president Donald Trump and Democrat candidate Joe Biden. Here's a quick refresher - though what's on any given ballot will vary depending on the voter's address. A sample ballot can be viewed online here (bit.ly/2J7WVy3).
Nationally, Republican and incumbent Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer - congressman for Missouri's Third District, which includes Callaway County - is racing against Democrat Megan Rezabek and Libertarian Leonard Steinman II.
At the state level
Republican incumbent Gov. Mike Parson is racing against Democrat Nicole Galloway (the current state auditor), Libertarian Rik Combs and the Green Party's Jerome Howard Bauer. Learn more about each candidates' positions in general here (bit.ly/3kGwoWG) and on police reform here (bit.ly/37SfkcL).
Lt. Governor Mike Kehoe, a Republican, is running for reelection against Democrat Alissia Canady, Libertarian Bill Slantz and Kelley Dragoo of the Green Party. Learn more about their positions and goals here (bit.ly/2JjGZZR).
Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, a Republican, is running for reelection against Democrat Yinka Faleti, Libertarian Carl Herman Freese, Paul Leymann of the Green Party and Paul Venable of the Constitution Party. Learn about the candidates' views on voting reforms here (bit.ly/37S2nzx).
State Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick, a Republican, is running for reelection against Democrat Vicky Lorenz Englund, Libertarian Nicholas Kasoff and Green Party candidate Joseph Civettini. Learn about the candidates' goals here (bit.ly/37MW9Rw).
Attorney General Eric Scmitt, a Republican, is running for reelection against Democrat Rich Finneran and Libertarian Kevin Babcock. Learn about their qualifications and goals here (bit.ly/3jyElvG).
Voters may choose whether to retain two Missouri judges: Judge John Chapman, of the Western District Court of Appeals, and Judge Patricia Breckenridge, of the Missouri Supreme Court.
Two Republican state representatives whose districts include parts of Callaway County are running unopposed for reelection: Kent Haden (43rd District) and Travis Fitzwater (49th District).
The ballot also features two constitutional amendments.
If passed, Constitutional Amendment 1 would impose a two-term limit on the lieutenant governor, secretary of state, auditor and attorney general's offices. A two-term limit currently applies to the governor and treasurer.
A "yes" vote for Constitutional Amendment 3 is a vote in favor of banning gifts from paid lobbyists to legislators (those gifts are currently limited to $5), reducing legislative campaign contribution limits for state senate campaigns from $2,500 to $2,400 and changing the state's redistricting process. In 2018, Missouri voters approved a system in which a nonpartisan state demographer was responsible for drawing state legislative districts. If passed, Amendment 3 would repeal that redistricting measure and put the responsibility into the hands of a Governor-appointed bipartisan commission. It would also modify and reprioritize redistricting criteria.
The ballot language of Amendment 3 was at the center of a legal battle earlier this year - learn more here (bit.ly/3oDOmvd).
Locally
Republican incumbent Randall Kleindienst is running against Democrat Donnie Horstman for the Eastern District Commissioner position. Learn about Kleindienst's goals and positions here (bit.ly/3jyElvG) and Horstman's here (bit.ly/3oFh27e).
Republican incumbent Josh Devine faces Democrat Andy Hirth for the Circuit 13 Division 4 judge seat. Meet Devine here (bit.ly/35LHinz) and Hirth here (bit.ly/2HOLj2C).
A number of incumbents are running unopposed for reelection for county-level positions. All are running as Republicans. These include Western District Commissioner Roger Fischer (who defeated a fellow Republican challenger in the primaries), Callaway County Sheriff Clay Chism, Treasurer Debbie Zerr and Public Administrator Karen Digh Allen.