Congresswoman Cori Bush, St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell and Maria Chappelle-Nadal were among more than 400 candidates who officially filed to run for office in Jefferson City on the first day possible, Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024.
Bell and Chappelle-Nadal are challenging Bush for her seat in Congress.
Gabe Gore also made it official on Tuesday that he will seek election to the office of St. Louis Circuit Attorney.
According to a St. Louis Public Radio report, Bush said “St. Louis deserves a representative that not only lives here, but believes in the people and wants the people to actually have the change that they’ve been asking for.”
Bell said, “We need steady and effective leadership in our district” and criticized Bush for voting against a number of Democratic priorities such as the federal infrastructure bill and support for Israel.
Chappelle-Nadal said she will be a vocal advocate for the federal government to be held accountable for radioactive waste exposure throughout the St. Louis region.
“We have a lot of challenges in the 1st Congressional District, including radioactive waste,” Chappelle-Nadal said. “And right now those issues are not being addressed as they should.”
Candidate filing closes March 26 at 5 p.m. Individuals planning to file for office must possess a paid filing fee receipt from a political party; a copy of an affidavit (does not apply to candidates running for U.S. Congress) filed with the Department of Revenue; and proof of identity – voter identification card, Missouri driver’s license, birth certificate, or other form of official identification.
Representatives from the political parties and the Department of Revenue will be available at the secretary of state’s office, on opening day only, to provide documentation if the individual has not obtained the necessary documents.
Voters in the City of St. Louis who want to vote an absentee ballot for the April 2, 2024, General Municipal Election may do so at the Board of Election Commissioners, 300 N. Tucker Blvd., starting Tuesday, February 20, during regular office hours of 8:00 A.M. until 5:00 P.M., Monday through Friday. The last day the Election Board can accept an absentee ballot application by mail is Wednesday, March 20. The last day to vote an absentee ballot in person is Monday, April 1, at 5:00 P.M., the day before the Election.
You may vote by absentee ballot if you fulfill one of the following criteria:
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Incapacity or confinement due to illness or physical disability.
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Expect to be absent on Election Day
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Election workers, first responders, healthcare workers and members of law enforcement
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Prevented by religious beliefs from going to the polls on election day
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Incarcerated but haven’t lost right to vote
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Active-duty military personnel and close family members living with them.
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Missouri citizens living outside the U.S.
“No-excuse” early voting is an additional option to the regular absentee voting period. During the two-week period before April 2 (March 19 to April 1), “no excuse” absentee voting will be available at the Election Board during regular office hours. In addition, the Election Board will be open to the public the Saturday before the Election, March 30, from 9:00 A.M. until 1:00 P.M.
There are no candidates on the April 2 ballot. Registered voters will be able to vote “Yes” or “No” on two Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (MSD) propositions — Proposition W, which would authorize MSD to issue sewer revenue bonds in the amount of $750,000,000 to make various improvements in its sewer and drainage systems; and Proposition S, which would authorize MSD to impose a property tax on residential taxable property within the District and a charge on non-residential customers in the District to fund capital improvements for flood and erosion control.
Any city resident who has any questions about their voter registration status should contact the Election Board at 314-622-4336. A sample ballot, as well as another helpful information, is available on the Board’s website at www.electionboard@stlouis-mo.gov .
Additional information and a detailed listing of requirements can be found on the secretary of state’s website:https://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/candidates
Sylvester Brown Jr. is the Deaconess Foundation Community Advocacy Fellow.
