Low voter turnout expected in Boone County special election

Newly appointed Boone County Clerk Taylor Burks said voters in several districts are more likely to show up to the polls for the special election Tuesday based on the issues on their ballots.

Burks said, historically, voter turnout is around 20 percent for special elections. As of 3 p.m., about 7 percent of registered voters in the county had cast their ballots.

Burks said another rush of voters is expected later in the evening after people get off work.

He said polling places in southern Boone are seeing higher voter turnouts for the 50th District House of Representatives race.

Republican Sara Walsh and Democrat Michela Skelton are vying for the seat that was left vacant by Caleb Jones, who left to join Gov. Greitens’ administration.

Burks said polling places in northern Boone County were also seeing higher turnout for the Centralia School District tax levy issue.

The school district is asking voters to approve a 60-cent tax increase, the first proposed by the district in more than a decade.

Superintendent Darin Ford said the levy would bring in a revenue of nearly $700,000.

Tuesday’s election is also the first under the state’s new voter ID law. Burks said so far there’s been little confusion from voters.

The new law generally requires photo identification to cast a ballot, but there are other ways people can vote if they are registered and don’t have a government issued ID.

Burks said other options include a bank or utility statement that includes an address that can be verified by the clerk’s office. If you show up to the polls with nothing, you can sign a provisional ballot that will only be counted if verified by the clerk’s office.