Conduct of Referendums

PURPOSE: This rule sets forth the basic procedures for the conduct of a referendum on the establishment or disestablishment of soil and water conservation districts. (1) The process for the local committee and election judges is— (A) Publish successive notices of the referendum in one (1) or more newspapers in the county where the referendum is being held during each of the two (2) weeks immediately preceding the referendum; (B) Open polls promptly at the time advertised; (C) Furnish official ballots to each polling place; and (D) Close the polls promptly at the closing hour designated but allow those who have entered the polling place before this time to complete their ballots. (2) If any elected judge is not present at the polls on the date and time of the referendum, the judges present may select any citizen in the district to serve as a judge and provide the necessary instructions. (3) Only one (1) vote is allowed per farm by the owner or the owner’s legal representative. A tract of land must be operated as an independent farm enterprise to entitle its land representative to a single vote. Two (2) or more tracts of land that are operated by one (1) management entity as an independent farm enterprise will be entitled to one (1) vote. (4) Each landowner may personally cast one (1) vote per owned and independently operated farm. If the landowner is unable to personally vote, the landowner may give power of attorney to a taxpayer residing within the county to represent the landowner in the referendum. (5) All blanks on the list of voters and all referendum and election tally sheets must be correctly filled in. (6) Referendum and election tally sheets and all supplies should be returned to the clerk of the county court within twenty-four (24) hours after polls are closed, where they shall be safely preserved for twelve (12) months. If arrangements cannot be made with the county clerk, these materials shall be sent to the Soil and Water Districts Commission, PO Box 176, Jefferson City, MO 65102. The chair of the local committee and the clerk of the county court shall certify the total referendum vote by area and polling place and report the results to the chair of the Soil and Water Districts Commission. AUTHORITY: section 278.080, RSMo 2016.* This version of rule filed Dec. 7, 1955, effective Dec. 17, 1955. Amended: Filed May 23, 2018, effective Jan. 30, 2019. *Original authority: 278.080, RSMo 1943, amended 1980, 1986, 1995, 2000, 2001.