Missouri General Election Tues, Nov 8th, 2016: Voter guide - Find your polling place, ballots, candidates, issues

Missouri's general elections are being held across the state on Tuesday, November 8th, 2016.

"I bicycle - I walk - I run and I vote" is one of the most powerful statements we can make to any elected leader, in our work to make Missouri a better, safer place to walk and bicycle.

I bicycle and I vote!

So whatever your party, whoever your candidates, whatever your issues, please get out and VOTE on Tuesday, November 8th.

MoBikeFed Voter Guide for the November 8th, 2016, Primary Election

Finding your polling place and sample ballot

• Polling places are open 6am to 7pm on Election Day. You will need some form of ID.  More info and FAQ about voting here.
   
• Find your polling place here - lists your polling place with address.  
   
• Locate your local election authority's web site here - most local election authorities have local lists of candidates, ballot initiatives, and sample ballots.
   
• Ballotpedia shows your sample ballot with all local candidates, issues, and links to further information.  If you live in the greater STL region, Vote411 is another similar resource.  (Note that ballots from these national election sites generally show state and federal races and statewide ballot initiatives, but probably will not show local races or local ballot initiatives. Check your local election authority's web site for those local races & issues.)
   
• You can vote absentee ballot starting six weeks before the election--though you must have a reason, such as traveling on election day 

Information about candidates

• Links to websites of candidates for statewide office and Congress
   
• Information about Missouri State House of Representatives Candidates 
   
• Information about Missouri State Senate Candidates
   
• Information about candidates for Local Judge offices
   
• Put any state or federal candidate's name into the Project VoteSmart search box to find background, biographical information, and links to the candidate's web site.

November 2016 Statewide Ballot Issues

Six statewide ballot issues are up for a vote on November 8th. Find out details and pro/con arguments for each ballot issue on Ballotpedia and the Missouri Secretary of State web site.

Amendment summary--click the name of each amendment for the Ballotpedia page with more information and details about the proposed amendment:

Note that Amendment 3 and Proposition A both increase tobacco tax. If both pass, it is unclear under Missouri law which will prevail.

November 2016 Local Ballot Issues

Many local municipalities will have issues on the ballot.  Note that these local issues most often do not show up on sample ballots generated by Ballotpedia, Vote411, and similar national election aggretation sites. Check the sample ballot on your local election authority's web site for those local issues.

Or you can google location:mo cityname elections to find local election information, or google cityname sample ballot to find a sample ballot.

Your sample ballot will also show any local elections, such as county council, sheriff, coroner, and assessor, that do not show up on national election information web sites.

Below are just a few of the local issues on the ballot in different parts of Missouri:

Note that for property taxes in Missouri, assessed value is 19% of market value. For example, for a home valued $100,000, a property tax of 5 cents per $100 assessed value means the property tax will be $100,000 * 19% * 0.05/100 = $9.50 per year.