Voters in western Perry County will utilize a new polling location beginning with the November 8 General Election. The Perry County Clerk and Election Authority is combining the precincts located in the St Marys township which include individuals who previously cast their ballots in Silver Lake or Yount. The new voting location, known as the Lake Perry Office, is the brown building located outside the entrance of the gated community. The address is 14901 Highway T.
Voters impacted by the change should expect to receive a post card from the clerk’s office this month, along with a new voter registration card with the Lake Perry Office name and address listed as their updated polling location.
Perry County Clerk Jared Kutz said there are a variety of reasons for the consolidation
“This merger creates additional efficiencies in the delivery of elections that are critical to best serve the voters,” Kutz said. “The Lake Perry location is the most centrally located for the largest portion of voters in the St Marys township.”
Voters who previously cast their ballots in Silver Lake at St Rose of Lima Church Hall, or in Yount, at Whitewater Christian Church will now utilize the Lake Perry Office as their polling location. Kutz said this change will be permanent.
Kutz said those unable to make it to their polling location do have the opportunity to vote absentee in person in his office located at 321 N Main St. in Perryville. Absentee voting for the November 8 Election opens on September 27.
On August 28, new election laws pertaining to House Bill 1878 went into effect. Missouri Secretary of State John Ashcroft is on a media campaign to educate the public on what the change means. “The new legislation has many components, including a Voter ID requirement. On Election Day, a voter is required to show a valid, unexpired government-issued ID or cast a provisional ballot. Examples of valid photo ID include a Missouri driver license, U.S. passport or military ID. Other changes in the law will allow for two weeks of no-excuse in-person absentee voting and allow the secretary of state to audit voter rolls.
“This law increases election security and transparency and instills confidence that a vote will count if cast,” said Ashcroft in the release. “This is about being proactive rather than reactive - we want to look at coming elections and make sure it is hard to cheat but easy to vote.”
If a registered voter in Missouri does not have a government-issued ID, the secretary of state’s office will help the individual acquire documents needed to obtain a nondriver license for voting purposes at no charge. Additional information regarding this can be found on the secretary’s website at https://www.sos.mo.gov/voterid.
The new voting law is being challenged by both the Missouri League of Women Voters and the state NAACP who allege the law unconstitutionally restricted voting rights by limiting which IDs may be used at polling place.
Questions regarding elections should be directed to the Perry County Clerk’s Office at 573-547-4242. Remaining 2022 elections include: Tuesday, November 8, General Election. 2023 Elections include: Tuesday, April 4, General Municipal. Individuals interested in serving as an election judge are encouraged to contact the clerk’s office.
