Although amendment to legalize recreational marijuana passes, most Ozark County voters were opposed

Ozark County voters followed trend with other Missouri voters in all matters on the Nov. 8 General Election ballot except one, Amendment 3, which legalizes recreational marijuana in Missouri for those age 21 and older. 

The statewide measure passed with 53.11% (1,089,326 votes) of Missouri voters in favor and 46.89% (961,909 votes) voting no; however, Ozark County voters were not as open to the amendment with the majority, 60.38% (2,217 votes), of local votes being cast against the legalization and 39.62% (1,455 votes) in favor. 

Missouri and Maryland passed measures during this year’s General Election, joining 19 other states which had already legalized recreational marijuana prior to the election. Missouri voted in favor of allowing medical marijuana in 2018. 

In addition to the approval of an additional half-cent sales tax for the Ozark County Sheriff’s Department (see story, page 1 and jump below), Ozark Countians voted the following ways in other measures on the ballot: 

U.S. Senate race - (R) Schmitt wins

US Senator Eric Schmitt won the Missouri vote with 55.4% (1,143,626 statewide voters), beating out Democrat Trudy Busch Valentine, who secured 42.12% of the vote.

Ozark County voters supported Schmitt by an even larger majority with 79.94% (2,957 votes) of Ozark County’s votes going to him and 16.49% (610 votes) cast for Valentine. In Ozark County, these other votes were cast: Libertarian Jonathan Dine with 1.97% (73 votes) and Constitutional Party candidate Paul Venable with 1.51% (56 votes). There were three write-in ballots in that race.

U.S. Representative race - (R) Jason Smith

In the US Representative district 8 race, Jason Smith was reelected with 75.96% (186,259 votes) statewide. Democrat Randi McCallian received 21.89% (53,661 votes) statewide. 

In Ozark County, 84.59% (3,118 votes) of voters cast their ballot for Smith, while 13.32% (491 votes) voted for McCallian. Other votes included: 2.06% (76 votes) for Libertarian Jim Higgins and one write in vote. 

Missouri State Auditor - (R) Fitzpatrick wins

In the Missouri State auditor race, Republican Scott Fitzpatrick won 59.42% (1,216,046 votes) statewide, beating out Democrat Alan Green who had 37.55% (768.500 votes) and other candidates. 

In Ozark County, the vast majority also voted for Fitzpatrick, a total of 83.96% (3,084 votes). Green took 13.50% (496 votes) of Ozark County’s votes; Libertarian John A. Hartwig Jr. had 3.5% (92 votes) and there was one write in. 

Amendment 1 - Failed

Expanding investment opportunities for state funds 

Constitutional amendment 1, which would have revised rules for state investments, failed in Missouri with 54.28% (1,061,253 votes) of the voters voting no and 45.73% (894,056 votes) voting for the amendment. 

Most of Ozark County voters also voted no for Amendment 1 with 55.37 percent (1,938 votes) no and 44.63% (1,562 votes) yes. 

Amendment 4 - Passed

Allows lawmakers to increase funding for police in Kansas City

Amendment 4, which amends the Missouri Constitution to allowed the Legislature to increase the mandatory funding level for the Kansas City Police Department, also passed. Statewide, 63.24% (1,265,938 votes) were in favor of the measure and 36.765% (735,835 votes) were against it. 

Locally, Ozark Countians also supported the measure with 64.82% (2,311 votes) voting yes and 35.18% (1,254 votes) voting no. 

Amendment 5 - Passed

Creates the state Department of the National Guard

Another measure that also passed was Amendment 5, which amends the Missouri Constitution to create the Missouri Department of the National Guard, which would elevate the National Guard to a Cabinet-level state entity instead of a division of the Department of Safety. 

Statewide, there was 60.235% (1,193,908 votes) voting in favor of the amendment and 39.77% (788,184 votes) against it. 

Ozark County voters also voted in favor of Amendment 5 with 67.84 % (2,388 votes) for the amendment and 32.16% (1,132 votes) against it. 

Constitutional convention - Failed

A constitutional convention question, which would have required the governor to call an election of delegates to serve at a convention for the purpose of revising or amending the Missouri Constitution, failed in Missouri. Statewide, 67.698% (1,324,937 votes) were opposed while 32.30% (632,200 votes) were in favor of it. 

In Ozark County, voters also mostly voted in opposition with 73.58% (2,545 votes) no and 26.42% (914 votes) yes. 

Supreme Court and Southern District Court of Appeals Judges - Retained

In four questions asking if Supreme Court Judges Zel Fischer and Robin Ranson and Missouri Southern District Court of Appeals Judges Don Burrell and Jack Goodman be retained in office, Missouri voters largely voted yes. 

For Fischer, the vote statewide was 68.05% (1,207,409 votes) yes and 70.25% (566,918 votes) no. In Ozark County, 76.59% (2,375 votes) were yes for Fischer and 23.41% (726 votes) were no. 

For Ranson, statewide it was 70.25% (1,235,594 votes) yes and 29.754% (523,350 votes) no. In Ozark County, there were 74.58% (2,291 votes) yes and 22.72% (698 votes) no. 

For Burrell, statewide it was 75.74% (312,892 votes) yes to 24.26% (100,225 votes) no. In Ozark County, there were 77.28% (2,374 votes) yes and 22.72% (698 votes) no. 

For Goodman, statewide, it was 76.20% (314,952 votes) yes to 23.80% (98,359 votes) no. In Ozark County, 77.70% (2,390 votes) yes and 22.30% (686 votes) no. 

Candidates running unopposed

Candidates running unopposed in the General Election, all Republicans, received these votes: Missouri District 155 State Representative Travis Smith, 3,286 votes; Associate Circuit Judge Raymond M. Gross, 3,130; Presiding Commissioner Terry Newton, 3,145; County Clerk Brian Wise, 3,223; Circuit Clerk and Recorder of Deeds Jackie Smith, 3,170; County Treasurer Christy Thompson, 3,171; Prosecuting Attorney Lee Pipkins, 3,074; and County Collector Darla Sullivan, 3,230.