On November 5, St. Louis County voters will be asked to decide on Proposition O, a charter amendment that, if passed, would change the starting date for newly elected Council members, the County Executive, the Prosecuting Attorney, and the Assessor to commence on the first Tuesday in January following said elected official's election.
About this series…
This is Article #10 (the last one) in a series covering the NINE constitutional amendments and propositions that will be included on our November ballot. These articles are designed to help explain each ballot measure (beyond the short language we normally see). I will NOT be offering opinions on candidates for office – you're on your own for that ;-)
My website and email list present the "newest" articles first, so this series will likely appear to you in reverse order. If you want to start from the beginning – start with Article #1 and follow the links to read the articles in order.
County Proposition O - Term Starting Dates
On November 5, St. Louis County voters will be asked to decide on Proposition O, a charter amendment that, if passed, would change the starting date for newly elected Council members, the County Executive, the Prosecuting Attorney, and the Assessor to commence on the first Tuesday in January following said elected official's election.
Ballot Language
What’s Changing?
Of everything on our ballot, this is by far the simplest and easiest to understand. The current starting date is the second Tuesday in January, this will simply move it up a week to the first Tuesday in January.
While this is easy to understand, I was not able to find any articles or discussion by the County Council on why this is important. However, the ordinance to place this on the ballot was unanimously passed by the Council (6-0 with 1 absent).
So you might need to flip a coin on this one.
One More Thing… Judges
A large portion of our ballot is asking you if various judges should be retained in their office. Unless you have spent a lot of time in the courtroom, that might be a hard thing to decide. Lucky for us, the Missouri Bar Association provides a review for all of them, indicating if they are doing their job, or if the members of the Bar feel they should be removed. Most get a passing grade, but a few years ago I recall several that didn’t.
You can view their report HERE
I checked it out and unless I missed one, they all seem to have received passing grades from the Bar Association.
Now It’s Your Turn
This concludes my review of the issues on our ballot. I can’t remember an election with so many issues, but don’t let it overwhelm you.
Remember that voting is one of the most powerful ways to make your voice heard. Every election shapes our community, our state, and our future, and your participation is crucial in ensuring that these decisions reflect the will of the people.
Early voting begins on October 22, giving you the opportunity to cast your ballot before Election Day. I encourage you to take the time to research the issues, learn about the candidates, and understand the proposals on the ballot. No matter where you stand on the issues, your vote matters. The ballot is more than just a list of names and measures; it's a blueprint for the future of our county, state, and nation. Take this opportunity to dig in, get informed, and make sure your voice is part of the conversation.
So now, it's your turn — make a plan, get informed, and most importantly, vote!
League of Women Voter's Guide
I highly recommend using this Voter Guide tool for a final review of all of the candidates and issues. Each is provided on a separate page, with summaries to further help understand everything. You can also treat it as a sample ballot, indicating your yes/no selections and then print or email the results when you are done.