Tuesday was the first day of filing for candidates to be placed on the ballot for the Aug. 6 primary election, and several lined up at the Howell County Clerk Kelly Waggoner's to get the job done early. From left: Waggoner is signing up Northern Commissioner Calvin Wood and Public Administrator John Pruett, both running for reelection, and Dr. Gary DeShazo, West Plains, who is running for the office of Howell County Coroner held by Tim Cherry. Filing for the August election runs through March 26, with a final certification date of May 28. For unregistered voters, the last day to register to vote in that election is July 10. The Howell County Clerk's Office is at 35 Court Square in West Plains. To register to vote in person, bring a current government-issued photo ID. A receipt from a political party showing proof of a paid filing fee is also required in order to file as a candidate, along with a government-issued photo ID. Provisional ballots may be cast if the voter is registered, but doesn't possess any of the official forms of identification, however, the ballot will only be counted if the voter returns to their polling place on election day with a valid photo ID or the signature on the provisional ballot envelope is determined by the local election authority to match the signature on the voter registration record. Municipal and school board elections will be held April 2; the last day to register to vote for that election is March 6.
