Absentee voting for April municipal election begins February 21

Construction is anticipated to begin on renovations at the historic City Hall in summer 2024 and completed sometime in 2026, a city spokesperson told the News-Leader.

Absentee voting for April's municipal elections begins Tuesday, February 21 across Greene County.

Springfield residents will be able to vote for a mayor, city council, and school board April 4. Other communities in Greene County are also having municipal elections. According to the county clerk's office, the April ballot includes a wide variety of candidates and/or issues in seven cities, eight school districts and four fire protection districts.

Though eligible voters are able to vote early starting Tuesday through the election, not every voter is allowed to vote before election day. By statute, voters are permitted to cast an absentee ballot for one of the following reasons:

  • Absence on Election Day from the jurisdiction of the election authority in which such voter is registered to vote;

  • Incapacity or confinement due to illness or physical disability on Election Day, including a person who is primarily responsible for the physical care of a person who is incapacitated or confined due to illness or disability and resides at the same address;

  • Religious belief or practice;

  • Employment as an election authority or by an election authority at a location other than such voter’s polling place;

  • Employment as a first responder, a health care worker, or a member of law enforcement;

  • Incarceration, provided all qualifications for voting are retained;

  • Certified participation in the state address confidentiality program because of safety concerns.

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In-person absentee voting will be available at the Greene County Elections Center, 1126 N. BoonvilleAve. in Springfield, Monday to Friday between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm, up to and including the day prior tothe election.

To vote absentee or on the day of, voters will be required to present one of the following forms of photo identification:

  • A nonexpired Missouri driver or non-driver license;

  • A nonexpired military ID, including a veteran’s ID card;

  • A nonexpired United States passport;

  • Another photo ID issued by the United States or the state of Missouri which is either not expired or expired after the date of the most recent general election.

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To vote absentee by mail, voters may either submit a handwritten request or complete the fillable formavailable at vote.greenecountymo.gov. These requests must be signed by the voter and receivedin the Office of the County Clerk no later than 5:00 p.m. on the second Wednesday prior to the election,March 22. Mailed ballots must be voted, notarized, returned by mail, and received in the Office of theCounty Clerk before 7 p.m. on Election Day.

Sample ballots are available in the Office of the County Clerk and at vote.greenecountymo.gov.Questions about absentee voting may be directed to the Office of the County Clerk at 417-868-4060 orAbsenteeVoting@greenecountymo.gov.

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Who is on the ballot in Springfield on April 4?

Springfield voters will choose between these candidates for mayor, several city councilmembers, and two of four SPS school board candidates. Those within Springfield's school district will also be asked to vote on a proposed $220 million bond issue.

Here are the candidates running for those position within Springfield:

  • Mayor - Ken McClure (incumbent), Melanie Bach

  • Zone 1 - Monica Horton (incumbent)

  • Zone 2 - Abe McGull (incumbent)

  • Zone 3 - David Nokes, Brandon Jenson

  • General Seat C - Callie Carroll, Jeremy Dean

  • General Seat D - Derek Lee, Bruce Adib-Yazdi

  • Springfield Public Schools Board of Education - Shurita Thomas-Tate (incumbent), Judy Brunner, Landon McCarter, Chad Rollins.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Absentee voting for April Springfield election begins February 21