Absentee voting open for June 2 election, two polling places move

Voters in two Poplar Bluff city wards will move to new polling places for the June 2 election.

All voters also still have time to request an absentee voting ballot, if they prefer not to vote in person at a polling place, said county clerk Tonyi Deffendall.

Residents will be asked June 2 to choose school board and city leaders in an election that was rescheduled from April due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Safety precautions and social distancing at polling places is expected to be discussed Monday by county and state officials.

“We will try to follow CDC guidelines. There will be social distancing guidelines and workers will disinfect periodically,” said Deffendall. “We’re going to do the best that we can.”

Masks will not be required at polling places, she said.

“We will not turn anyone away that does not have a mask on,” Deffendall said.

Polling places

Signs will be in place June 2 to direct voters from Ward 5 and Ward 3 to their temporary polling places.

The locations will be assessed again before the August primary elections, Deffendall said.

Ward 5 residents will vote in the community room of First United Methodist Church. They will enter the church from the Fifth Street entrance.

The location is across the street from the regular voting place, which is in a former armory building operated by Poplar Bluff School District’s food service program.

The church offers a larger space for voters, Deffendall said.

Ward 3 voters will move from Twin Towers to a housing authority maintenance building to cast their ballots.

Building D is located about a block away, at 614 Peach St.

The move was done out of concern for COVID-19 and the elderly residents of Twin Towers, according to Deffendall.

The clerk’s office and housing authority consulted with the county health department and state health officials in making the decision, she said.

“We just came to the conclusion that it’s not the safest thing to do,” Deffendall said. “Again, we’re just going to have to see what the next few weeks bring for August.”

Absentee voting

Voters can still either request an absentee ballot be mailed to them, or cast an absentee ballot at the county courthouse, Deffendall said.

Only certain exemptions are allowed under guidelines for absentee voting, she said.

Anyone concerned about their health and COVID-19 can request an absentee ballot under the exemption confinement due to illness or physical disability.

“We’re not going to tell them no,” she said. “Anyone is welcome to come here and vote or request a ballot be mailed to them.”

A notary is not required to make this request, said Deffendall, adding absentee voting to date has been very slow.

Requests to have a ballot mailed must be made in writing and must be received by the county clerk’s office by 5 p.m. May 20.

The clerk’s office must have ballots in their possession by 7 p.m. on election day.

Absentee voting can also be done until 5 p.m. June 1 in person, at the clerk’s office.

The courthouse will be open from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 30, for absentee voting. It will be closed on Memorial Day.