VIENNA — The Maries County municipal election turnout of 8.11 percent was disappointing to County Clerk Rhonda Rodgers, who expected 20 percent.

The county had numerous tax measures on the April 7 ballot. Those that passed included Proposition A, which continues a county-wide sales tax and a sales tax increase for the Maries Osage Ambulance District. However, Belle Proposition A did not receive the majority vote and failed to impose a public safety sales tax.

There were also contested races for Belle mayor and the Belle alderman Ward 2.

Rodgers was hoping that the local tax issues, which affect the residents, would bring people to the polls.

“It’s just very disappointing that more people don’t take voting seriously.  We have that right.  They don’t exercise that right,” Rodgers said.

Every election cycle, Rodgers tries to let residents know that an election is coming up, but she said that turnout varies, depending on how many contested races there are and how heated they are.  Furthermore, she believes that local issues are not as important to the younger generation.

“Times are changing, and it seems like your older generation, this was very important to them,” she said. “And I feel like the younger generation as a whole — I’m not saying everyone, but as a whole — It doesn’t mean something to them like it did the older generation.”

In November elections, Rodgers saw over 70 percent turnout instead of the 15 percent she has sees in April. She hopes for around 45 percent during the August and November elections. However, she does not support following other states in consolidating the municipal elections with the general election.

For April, she had to put together 12 ballots for the different municipalities because not every resident votes in every race. For the primary and general elections, she must create different ballots for the different parties, and she doesn’t want to combine that work into one election.

“April is a difficult election for the election workers. It’s more difficult for me to make sure that I have all the splits right. I just don’t think it would be a good fit to throw them together,” Rodgers said.