PUXICO, Mo. -- When voters go to the polls April 7 they will be asked to decide whether or not to forego future municipal elections if all candidates are running unopposed. If the majority of the voters approve the ballot issue, it would eliminate write-in candidates while in effect.
Puxico City Clerk Alice Patrick said the ballot issue is a result of changes made to Section 115.124 RSMo by state lawmakers. Section 115.124 applies to any city, town or village with a population of 1,000 or less. It allows the governing body to pass an ordinance calling an election for the qualified voters to decide whether to forego annual municipal elections for six years "if the number of candidates filing equal the number of seats up for election."
Members of the Puxico Board of Aldermen voted 4-0 to put the issue on the ballot at their regular monthly meeting Jan. 15.
The ballot language will read, "Shall the City of Puxico, Missouri, be authorized to forego annual elections if the number of candidates who have filed for a particular office is equal to the number of positions in the office to be filled by the election?"
If approved by the voters, Bill No. 15-01 Ordinance No. 15-01 would go in to effect immediately and be in force for a period of six years. At that point, the issue would have to be brought before the voters again.
Currently, qualified candidates can file with Patrick or Stoddard County Clerk Joe Watson as a write-in candidate after the official filing period has closed until the second Friday preceding the election. In the case of the April 7 election, write-in candidates would have to file their declaration of intent by March 27. With the ballot issue, write-in candidates would be eliminated if none of the seats on the ballot face opposition.
According to Patrick, if there is even one contested race, an election must be held.
Patrick said passage of this ordinance would save the city approximately $700 per election in advertising and ballot fees and salaries for election officials to work the polls.
For questions or more information about write-in candidacy, contact the Stoddard County Clerk's office at 573-568-3339.