August 3rd Primary Election Is Approaching
August 3rd Primary Election Is Approaching
By Echo Menges
Knox County voters will be back at the polls in less than a month. The Primary Election is happening August 3rd, 2010.
Knox County Clerk, Debbie McCurren says, “A lot of people stay away from the Primary because they don’t want to choose a party.” Which can be bad for taxpayers because the County Clerk’s Office is required to prepare for the election as if 100 percent of registered voters will turn out.
“When turn out is low it becomes quite costly.” Said McCurren. “It’s been as low as 27 percent or as high as 72 percent. We’ve had some (Municipal Elections) as low as 12 percent.”
Low Primary turnout isn’t only bad for taxpayers. Candidates in this year’s primary could suffer from low turnout too.
The Knox County Circuit Clerk race between incumbent James R. (Jim) Gibbons and newcomer Kelly Hayes will be battled out in this year’s Primary Election. Both candidates are on the Democratic Ballot so whoever wins the Primary in August wins the Election. It’s a tough pill to swallow if a small percentage of registered voters go to the polls August 3rd. It could easily be a race decided by a very few.
On the Republican Ballot Craig Redmon and Neill McKee face off for the Republican spot on November’s General Election Ballot. Whoever wins that Primary race will go on to face off with the Democratic hopeful, Keri Cottrell for the District 1 spot as a Missouri State Representative.
McCurren is posting sample ballots and polling locations in next weeks Sentinel along with an ad asking for Election Judges/Workers.
“I’m still in desperate need of Election Judges in Novelty, Newark, and Baring.” Said McCurren.
Election Judges/Workers can sign on at the County Clerks Office at the Knox County Courthouse in Edina. Election Judges/Workers will make $100 for the day and Supervisors will make $125. All workers will be required to be at the polls no later than 5:30 in the morning August 3rd and should expect to be there 13 to 14 hours until all ballots have been turned in.
