More Than 54,000 Buchanan Co. Residents Registered to Vote
By: William Seay
Updated: October 15, 2012
(ST. JOSEPH, Mo.) As November's vote approaches, the Buchanan County Clerk's office is busy.
This week, County Clerk Mary Baack-Garvey and her staff are inputting new voter registrations.
The registration deadline is Wednesday, October 10, but some will come by mail in the coming weeks.
"Buchanan County is doing really well with registration. Our numbers are good. We have about 76,000 people total and about 54,000 registered, almost 55,000," Garvey said.
The general election will include votes on the President of the United States as well as positions in Congress, but those who watch elections closely remind voters it's even more important to participate in local races.
The ballot will include votes for positions like sheriff and assessor, as well as the approval of new laws and taxes.
"It's what keeps Buchanan County together. If you want the right person for the job, you have got to get out there and go vote for them," Baack-Garvey said.
Missouri Western State University Political Science Professor Dr. Edwin Taylor is at work energizing his students about the election.
He says it's important they stay up on the issues in the few weeks before the big day.
"Democracy is about responsibility and that is being responsible for your government. If citizens don't participate, if citizens don't vote, we're going to get the exact kind of government that we deserve: generally not a very good one," Dr. Taylor said.
Baack-Garvey reminds people that voter registration is only for those who have never registered before.
If you've registered in the past but your address has changed, you can still change your address and be eligible to vote even after this year's registration deadline.
This week, County Clerk Mary Baack-Garvey and her staff are inputting new voter registrations.
The registration deadline is Wednesday, October 10, but some will come by mail in the coming weeks.
"Buchanan County is doing really well with registration. Our numbers are good. We have about 76,000 people total and about 54,000 registered, almost 55,000," Garvey said.
The general election will include votes on the President of the United States as well as positions in Congress, but those who watch elections closely remind voters it's even more important to participate in local races.
The ballot will include votes for positions like sheriff and assessor, as well as the approval of new laws and taxes.
"It's what keeps Buchanan County together. If you want the right person for the job, you have got to get out there and go vote for them," Baack-Garvey said.
Missouri Western State University Political Science Professor Dr. Edwin Taylor is at work energizing his students about the election.
He says it's important they stay up on the issues in the few weeks before the big day.
"Democracy is about responsibility and that is being responsible for your government. If citizens don't participate, if citizens don't vote, we're going to get the exact kind of government that we deserve: generally not a very good one," Dr. Taylor said.
Baack-Garvey reminds people that voter registration is only for those who have never registered before.
If you've registered in the past but your address has changed, you can still change your address and be eligible to vote even after this year's registration deadline.
