by Kim Fickett
Landmark reporter

Mary Beth Erickson, director of elections for Platte County, says she is expecting a 70% voter turnout at the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 2.

Erickson explained that she came up with that figure due to the absentee voter count being very high this election year.

As of Tuesday afternoon, 2,717 absentee ballots had been cast. “That number is over the November 2000 election, and we still have four days left to the election,” said Erickson.

The election board is averaging 100-150 absentee ballots being cast per day.

“I believe the numbers are so high because of the high interest in this year’s election. Not only on a federal level, but also on a state and local level,” said Erickson. “If people are going out of town, or are ill or disabled they are making sure they get their ballots in.”

Erickson stated that at the last general election in 2000, voter turnout for Platte County was 63%.

Local races that will be featured on Tuesday’s ballot is the District 1 Commissioner seat between Tom Pryor and Pauli Kendrick, 2nd District Commissioner seat between James Plunkett and Gary Dugger, Jason Brown vs. Meg Harding for state representative, Terry Edwards vs. Charlie Dickman for public administrator, Lisa Pope vs. Larry Gardner for assessor, and Bonnie Brown vs. Chris Dalton for treasurer.

Question One will ask voters to approve a retail sales tax of one-fourth of one cent be levied in Kansas and Missouri metropolitan counties for improvements to Arrowhead and Kauffman Stadium, and arts and culture facilities, activities, and organizations.

Voters will also be asked to approve Constitutional Amendment Number 3 asking that all revenues from the existing motor vehicle fuel tax be used only for state and local highways, roads and bridges.

Many features on candidates can be found in this issue of The Landmark. For more features on candidates and other election coverage, go to The Landmark's web site at www.plattecountylandmark.com