Area voters mark their ballots

Dunklin County Clerk's Office well prepared for today's event

As the candidates for today's primary election were busy campaigning and placing their signs this election season, workers in the Dunklin County Clerk's office were busy preparing for today's event.

According to Dunklin County Clerk Carol Hinesly, her office began work for today's election in February.

Dunklin County resident Laura Rickman files her ballot in today's primary.

"When the filings first start, that is when it all begins," Hinesly said. "You start in February with filing, and because February to August is such a length of time, you have more time to prepare for it. From August to November is going to be a trip because we will no sooner get done with August and we are going to have to start ordering our paper [for November]."

Hinesly said her office has to put all of the filing information into a spreadsheet, set up and order ballots for 21 precincts, double check the ballots, maintain the voting machines, and order supplies.

"You really don't start doing any of that until just two weeks prior to the election," Hinesly said.

Hinesly said during an election, she and her four person staff, along with County officials, have to pull together to make sure everything gets taken care of.

"Right before the election is when [the work] really starts, because [we] have to get [the information] to the [newspaper], the ballots have come in and they all have to be put in their own separate boxes," Hinesly said. "When we do all that, we have all these supplies that come in. Right before the election, somebody is out there working on each polling place packet."

Polling packet supplies include sample ballots, voting booths, voted ballot boxes, signage, ballots and the sign-in roster books.

Hinesly said other duties that must be attended to prior to the election is the set up of the polls, the running of each ballot style through each machine, and making sure everything is up-and-running, all of which was completed on Monday.

Hinesly said the polls and ballots are delivered by the Dunklin County Sheriff's Department to the 21 precincts, who also ensure that there are power strips, extension cords, tables, and other items required for election day.

Hinesly and her staff will remain at the Dunklin County Courthouse until all votes are counted. She said the official final count will be available at approximately 10 a.m., Wednesday morning.

Polls opened today at 6 a.m., and will remain open until 7 p.m., when the votes will be tallied. The Daily Dunklin Democrat will be on the scene this evening, providing live updates at DDDnews.com as the results become available.

Today's ballot will include races for this year's primary election, including:

Democratic Party:

* Associate Circuit Judge, Division III - H. Mark Preyer and John M. Beaton;

* U.S. Senator - Francis Vangeli, Robin Carnahan, and Richard Tolbert, and;

* State Auditor - Susan Montee and Abdul Akram.

Republican Party:

* U.S. Senator - R. L. Praprotnik, Hector Maldonado, Kristi Nichols, Roy Blunt, Deborah Solomon, Davis Conway, Mike Vontz, Chuck Purgason, and Tony Laszacs;

* State Auditor - Allen Icet and Tom Schweich, and;

* U.S. Representative, 8th Congressional District - Bob Parker and Jo Ann Emerson.

Libertarian Party:

* U.S. Senator - Jonathan Dine and Cisse Spragins.

Constitution Party:

* U.S. Senator - Joe Martellaro, Jerry Beck, and Mike Simmons.

Also on the ballot will be Proposition C, a public opinion poll on the nation's new health care law.