An online guide to the candidates and issues on the April 5 ballot in Missouri is now available online at VOTE411.org. Voters can type in their address to compare candidates’ priorities and read about any propositions on their ballot.

 “Municipal elections are important, so I hope voters will become informed on the candidates and ballot issues before they vote,” Angie Dunlap, President of the League of Women Voters of Metro St. Louis, said. “Your vote in the April 5 municipal elections is your voice in local government. This is your opportunity to choose who you want in local government making decisions on everyday issues such as education and taxes. I hope everyone will participate in this election.”

 Missouri’s general municipal election is Tuesday, April 5. The League received information from more than 270 candidates running for school board, city council, mayor and other local offices in seven counties. The guide includes summaries of more than 80 local ballot issues, including many to collect sales tax on online purchases.

Area voters can access useful information about their candidates and ballot initiatives just by going to VOTE411.org and typing in their address. A voter can see a sample ballot and even develop a personal guide to print and refer to at his or her polling place. The online guide includes poll locations, ID requirements and other general election information. 

League volunteers will deliver thousands of print guides to libraries, community centers, senior centers, religious organizations and other sites.

The deadline to request an absentee ballot for the April 5 election is March 23. Missouri voters must indicate an excuse and may need to have their ballot notarized if it wasn’t requested for health reasons. 

Voters in St. Louis County have five satellite sites for in-person absentee voting and can now vote at any polling place on Election Day. Voters should bring identification, but it doesn’t have to be a photo ID. Dunlap encourages anyone who encounters a problem at the polls to call the election protection hotline at 1-866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683) or the League office at 314-961-6869. Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on April 5.