Editorial: Ballot questions reflect growing pains in St. Charles County : Stltoday

Editorial: Ballot questions reflect growing pains in St. Charles County : Stltoday

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Historically, sheriffs were the most powerful elected officials in their rural Missouri counties. The legendary Walter “Buck” Buerger, for example, was sheriff of Jefferson County for 28 years.

Upon his death in 2009, one of his former deputies recalled the night he broke up a huge fight at a river access point by holding up his arm and telling the burly ringleader, “My name is Buck Buerger, I’m the sheriff of this county. I’ve got trained marksmen out on that bridge, and when I drop my arm, they’re going to start shooting. I want you and your people to get out of here, now. My arm’s getting tired.”

There were no marksmen on the bridge. Just Buck.

In some of Missouri’s outstate counties, sheriffs still have that kind of clout. But as exurban counties have become more urbanized, law enforcement has become more professional and less personal and political. On Nov. 6, voters in St. Charles County will be asked whether they want to take the next step.

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Secretary of state predicts 72 percent voter turnout Tuesday : Stltoday

Secretary of state predicts 72 percent voter turnout Tuesday : Stltoday

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snip
JEFFERSON CITY • More than 3 million Missourians will vote in Tuesday's election, if official estimates hold up.

Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan is predicting that 72 percent of Missouri’s 4.19 million registered voters will cast ballots next week.

“During my time in office, we’ve worked diligently with local election officials to ensure Missourians can have confidence in an election system that is fair, accurate and secure,” Carnahan said in a news release this afternoon. “I encourage all eligible Missourians to take the time to vote on Nov. 6 and make their voices heard.”

It remains to be seen whether the forecast, based on local turnout predictions from 116 local election officials across the state, will ring true on Election Day.


 

Night of the Voting Dead

oldie, but goodie