Ozark Countians turn out in big way for Nov. 3 election
Voting during a pandemic Wearing masks and working behind plexiglass, election judges Mary Chipp, center, and Mary Ann Niemi help a resident get started with the voting process Nov. 3 in the Barren Fork polling place in the Wasola Volunteer Fire Department. During the day, 401 ballots were cast there, 64.47 percent of the 622 registered voters in the precinct. Photo courtesy Janet Taber
Bakersfield precinct A steady stream of voters kept the Bayou precinct election judges busy in the FEMA storm-shelter building at Bakersfield High School. Bayou Precinct residents cast 520 ballots, 56.58 percent of 919 registered voters there. Photo courtesy Amy Britt
Pontiac precinct Karen and Corkey Mahan, with Robbie Berning, right, were the first voters after the Pontiac polling place opened at 6 a.m. Nov. 3. Election judges, from front, were Mary Cline, Karen Eubanks, Judy Foster and (not pictured) Linda Dunsmuir. Ballots cast totaled 136, which was 48.75 percent of the precinct's 279 registered voters. Photo courtesy Linda Dunsmuir
Ozark Countians followed the national trend in last week's national presidential election and turned out in large numbers to cast their ballots. And the number of absentee ballots cast here, 956, was the most ever, according to Ozark County Clerk Brian Wise.
In total, 4,889 of Ozark County's 7,356 registered voters participated in the Nov. 3 election; that 66.46 percent "is a great turnout anywhere," Wise said, adding that he was proud of Ozark County's election judges "for a great election day and my office staff for voting more absentee ballots than have ever been voted in Ozark County."
Nationwide, after a delay as mailed and absentee votes were counted, and with counting continuing in some states, on Saturday, Nov. 7, Democrat Joe Biden claimed to be the winner. At press time Monday, current President Donald Trump was refusing to concede and had launched lawsuits, alleging voting irregularities. National media sources reported that Trump received the most votes ever cast for a sitting president (at press time Monday, 71,204,112, 47.6 percent), and Biden received the most votes of any presidential candidate in history (75,588,318, 50.6 percent).
Statewide races and issues
Statewide, voters re-elected Mike Parson governor, who received 1,713,152 votes (57.17 percent) while Democrat Nicole Galloway got 1,216,192 votes (40.59 percent). In Ozark County, Parson received 3,963 votes (82.10 percent), and Galloway received 769 (15.93 percent).
Missouri voters turned down proposed Constitutional Amendment 1, which would have applied the two-term limit to selected state officers. The statewide vote was 1,373,891 yes (48.03 percent); 1,486,860 no (51.97 percent). In Ozark County, the vote was: 2,303 yes (50.33 percent); 2,273 no (49.67 percent).
Statewide, voters approved Constitutional Amendment 3 (banning lobbyists' gifts, reducing legislative campaign contribution limits, changing the redistricting process voters approved in 2018). The statewide vote was 1,471,892 yes (51.02 percent); 1,413,223 no (48.98 percent). In Ozark County, the vote was 2,914 yes (62.36 percent); 1,759 no (37.64 percent).
For other statewide results, visit the Missouri Secretary of State's website: sos.mo.gov.
Legislative and congressional races
Wasola resident Karla Eslinger, running for the Missouri Senate District 33 seat, received 64,874 votes (83.81 percent), defeating Democrat Tammy Harty of Ripley County, who received 12,529 votes (16.19 percent).
Republican candidate Travis Smith, of Twin Bridges, won the race for the Missouri House District 155 seat, defeating Democrat Mike Lind, of Thornfield, 15,282 votes (84.82 percent) to 2,736 (15.19 percent).
Eighth Congressional District incumbent Jason Smith, a Republican, received 253,646 votes (76.86 percent), defeating Democratic candidate Kathy Ellis, who received 70,504 votes (21.365 percent). Libertarian candidate Tom Schmitz received 5,846 votes (1.77 percent).
Ozark County's only contested race
Only one local contested race appeared on the Nov. 3 ballot. In that contest, David Haskins defeated Steve Thomas for the Jackson Township committee person, with Haskins receiving 76 votes (52.78 percent) and Thomas receiving 68 (47.22 percent).
County totals
These total votes were cast in the county's uncontested races:
Eastern District Commissioner: Gary Lee Collins, 1,919 votes; 48 write-in votes were received.
Western District Commissioner: Layne Nance, 2,174 votes; 19 write-ins.
Sheriff: Cass Martin, 4,061 votes; 95 write-ins.
Assessor: Jama M. Berry, 4,072; 42 write-ins.
Treasurer: Christy Thompson, 4,098; 21 write-ins.
Coroner: Gene Britt, 4,148 votes; 20 write-ins.
Surveyor: Matt Wade, 4,102 votes; 15 write-ins.
Public administrator: Melinda Abraham, 4,056 votes; 18 write-ins.
Precinct-by-precincts totals
These votes were cast in races of local or prominent interest in Ozark County's 11 precincts, including absentee votes as a precinct:
Absentee: 956 ballots cast. President: Trump/Pence, 710 votes (74.74 percent); Biden/Harris, 230 votes (24.21 percent). Governor: Parson, 705 votes (75.24 percent); Galloway, 222 votes (23.69 percent). 33rd Senate District: Eslinger, 754 (80.56 percent); Harty, 182 (19.44 percent). 155th House District: Smith, 730 votes (79 percent); Lind, 194 (21 percent). Amendment 1: 405 yes (46.23 percent); 471 no (53.77 percent). Amendment 3: 561 yes (63.03 percent); 329 no (36.97 percent).
Barren Fork: 401 ballots cast, 64.47 percent of the 622 registered voters. President: Trump/Pence, 357 votes (89.25 percent); Biden/Harris, 40 (10 percent). Governor: Parson, 354 (88.94 percent); Galloway, 36 (9.05 percent). 33rd Senate District: Eslinger, 368 votes (93.40 percent); Harty 26 (6.6 percent). 155th House District: Smith, 345 votes (87.79 percent); Lind, 48 (12.21 percent). Amend-ment 1: 202 yes (52.20 percent); 185 no (47.80 percent). Amendment 3: 271 yes (69.13 percent); 121 no (30.87 percent).
Bayou: 520 ballots cast (56.58 percent of 919 registered voters). President: Trump/Pence, 447 votes (86.13 percent); Biden/Harris, 63 (12.14 percent). Governor: Parson, 436 votes (84.99 percent); Galloway, 63 (12.28 percent). 33rd Senate District: Eslinger, 457 votes (90.32 percent); Harty, 49 (9.68 percent). 155th House District: Smith, 456 votes (89.59 percent); Lind, 52 (10.22 percent). Amend-ment 1: 251 yes (50.50 percent); 246 no (49.50 percent). Amendment 3: 315 yes (62.87 percent); 186 no (37.13 percent).
Big Creek: 708 ballots cast (55.62 percent of the 1,273 registered voters). President: Trump/Pence, 598 votes (85.06 percent); Biden/Harris, 97 (13.8 percent). Governor: Parson, 563 votes (80.77 percent); Galloway 114 (16.36 percent). 33rd Senate District: Eslinger, 609 votes (87.25 percent); Harty, 88 (12.61 percent). 155th House District: Smith, 599 votes (86.31 percent); Lind, 93 (13.4 percent). Amendment 1: 337 yes votes (49.13 percent); 349 no (50.87 percent). Amendment 3: 381 yes votes (54.98 percent); 312 no (45.02 percent).
Bridges: 724 ballots cast (39.61 percent of 1,828 registered voters). President: Trump/Pence, 621 (85.89 percent); Biden/Harris, 95 (13.14 percent). Governor: Parson, 592 votes (82.8 percent); Galloway, 104 (14.55 percent). 33rd Senate District: Eslinger, 631 votes (89.76 percent); Harty, 71 (10.10 percent). 155th House District: Smith, 609 (87.75 percent); Lind, 85 (12.25 percent). Amendment 1: 342 yes (52.37 percent); 311 no (47.63 percent). Amendment 3: 440 yes (64.71 percent); 240 (35.29 percent).
Dawt: 269 ballots cast (62.41 percent of 431 registered voters). President: Trump/Pence: 226 votes (84.33 percent); Biden/Harris, 40 (14.93 percent). Governor: Parson, 216 votes (80.6 percent); Galloway, 46 (17.16 percent). 33rd Senate District: Eslinger, 229 (86.42 percent); Harty, 36 (13.58 percent). 155th House District: Smith, 229 (87.40 percent); Lind, 33 (12.60 percent). Amendment 1: 136 yes (52.51 percent); 123 no (47.49 percent). Amendment 3: 147 yes (55.89 percent); 116 no (44.11 percent).
Jackson: 153 ballots cast (61.94 percent of 247 registered voters). President: Trump/Pence, 130 (85.53 percent); Biden/Harris, 21 (13.82 percent). Governor: Parson, 129 votes (86.00 percent); Galloway, 21 (14 percent). 33rd Senate District: Eslinger, 131 votes (87.33 percent); Harty, 19 (12.67 percent). 155th House District: Smith, 129 votes (86.58 percent); Lind, 20 (13.42 percent). Amendment 1: 86 yes (60.99 percent); 55 no (39.01 percent). Amendment 3: 76 yes (53.52 percent); 66 no (46.48 percent).
Lick Creek: 187 ballots cast (49.08 percent of 381 registered voters). President: Trump/Pence, 146 votes (78.07 percent); Biden/Harris, 38 (20.32 percent). Governor: Parson, 141 votes (76.22 percent); Galloway, 40 (21.62 percent). 33rd Senate District: Eslinger, 147 votes (80.77 percent); Harty, 35 (19.23 percent). 155th House District: Smith, 145 votes (79.67 percent); Lind, 37 (20.33 percent). Amendment 1: 78 yes (44.57 percent); 97 no (55.43 percent). Amendment 3: 110 yes (61.8 percent); 68 no (38.20 percent).
Pontiac: 136 total ballots cast, 48.75 percent of 279 registered voters. President: Trump/Pence, 107 votes (79.26 percent); Biden/Harris, 27 (20 percent). Governor: Parson 104 votes (77.61 percent); Galloway, 27 (20.15 percent). 33rd Senate District: Eslinger, 110 votes (82.09 percent); Harty, 24 (17.91 percent). 155th House District: Smith, 108 votes (81.82 percent); Lind, 24 (18.18 percent). Amendment 1: 64 yes (50.39 percent); 63 no (49.61 percent). Amendment 3: 75 yes (59.06 percent); 52 no (40.94 percent).
Richland: 535 ballots cast (61.35 percent of 872 registered voters). President: Trump/Pence, 468 votes (85.93 percent); Biden/Harris, 70 (13.13 percent). Governor: Parson, 456 votes (85.88 percent); Galloway, 66 (12.43 percent). 33rd Senate District: Eslinger, 460 votes (87.79 percent); Harty, 62 (11.83 percent). 155th House District: Smith, 464 votes (88.55 percent); Lind, 60 (11.45 percent). Amendment 1: 253 yes (51.11 percent); 242 no (48.89 percent). Amendment 3: 339 yes (65.83 percent); 176 no (34.17 percent).
Thornfield: 300 ballots cast (59.52 percent of the 504 registered voters). President: Trump/Pence, 264 votes (88 percent); Biden/Harris, 31 (10.33 percent). Governor: Parson, 267 votes (89.3 percent); Galloway, 30 (10.03 percent). 33rd Senate District: Eslinger, 270 votes (91.22 percent); Harty, 25 (8.45 percent). 155th House District: Smith, 268 votes (90.54 percent); Lind, 28 (9.46 percent). Amendment 1: 149 yes (53.21 percent); 131 no (46.79 percent). Amendment 3: 199 yes (68.15 percent); 93 no (31.85 percent).