More than 16,000 Barry County voters cast ballots in the Nov. 5 General Election, which carried not only the presidential ticket, but multiple issues and down-ballot races driving turnout.

In total, 16,311 of the 23,849 registered voters cast votes, accounting for 68.39% of the Barry County electorate. This is lower than the 73 % in 2016 and 71% in 2020, but higher than the 71 percent in 2008 and 65% in 2012.

Keeping pace with previous General Elections, Barry County remained decidedly conservative.

National races

President-Elect Donald Trump, Republican who won the popular vote and electoral college and was declared victor in the early morning hours of Nov. 6, carried Barry County with 81% (13,130) to Democrat Vice President Kamala Harris’ 18% (2,871).

Congressional and state races all followed suit, with Barry County picking Republicans who swept available seats.

For U.S. Senator, incumbent Republican Josh Hawley received 78% (12,415) to Democrat challenger Lucas Kunce’s 20% (3,168). For U.S. Representative, Republican incumbent Eric Burlison received 81% (12,669) to Democrat challenger Missi Hesketh’s 17 % (2,618).

State races

In state races, Republican Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe received 80% (12,713) to Democrat challenger Crystal Quade’s 18% (2,919). Republican Dave Wasinger for Lieutenant Governor garnered 79% (12,343) to Democrat Richard Brown’s 17% (2,647).

Vivek Malek retained his job as State Treasurer, in Barry County receiving 79% (12,302) to Democrat challenger Mark Osmack’s 17% (2,625). For Secretary of State, Republican Denny Hoskins received 80% (12,477) to Democrat Barbara Phifer’s 18% (2,788).

Attorney General Republican incumbent Andrew Bailey drew the highest approval from Barry County residents with 82% (12,881) to Democrat challenger Elad Jonathan Gross’ 16% (2,451).

Barry County residents contributed 19.5% of the total votes for incumbent Republican Mike Moon’s re-election to the State Senate District 29. He received 82% (12,933) to Democrat Challenger Ron Monnig’s 18% (2,750). Moon’s overall victory was an 80-20 margin.

In the race for State Representative District 158, incumbent Republican Scott Cupps held the position, receiving 85% (13,255) to Democrat challenger Yma Sautbine’s 15% (2,347) in Barry County. The vote accounted for 89% of his winning total at the same margin as the county.

Amendments and propositions

When it came to amendments and propositions, Barry County voted opposite the state’s result in three of the six issues.

On Amendment 2 (sports betting), 9,905 voted against the measure and 6,013 for, a margin of 62-38. The state’s final results passed the amendment by just over 4,000 votes among the 2.93 million cast.

On Amendment 3 (abortion access), Barry County also voted opposite the state result, with 11,145 voting no and 4,908 voting yes, a 69-31 margin. The state vote finished with a 52-48 margin in favor, a difference of about 95,000 votes among the 2.95 million cast.

On Amendment 5 (lake casino), Barry County matched the state, with 9,940 voting against and 5,734 voting in favor, a margin of 63-37. The state was a 52-48 margin against, decided by about 140,000 votes among the 2.88 million cast.

On Amendment 6 (law enforcement benefits), Barry County nearly matched the state, with 9,116 no votes and 5,933 yes votes, a margin of 61-39. The state result was the same margin, decided by nearly 600,000 votes of the 2.8 million cast.

On Amendment 7 (voting changes), Barry County again mirrored the state with 11,771 yes votes and 3,791 no votes, a 75-25 margin. Missouri’s margin was thinner, at 68-32 in favor, and the measure was decided by 1.05 million votes of the 2.85 million cast.

Finally, on Proposition A (minimum wage increase), Barry County voted nearly exactly opposite of the state, with 8,825 against and 6,960 in favor, a 56-44 margin. The state approved the measure by a 58-42 margin, decided by about 440,000 votes among the 2.92 cast.

Other ballot items

In the Judge retentions, Barry County voted in favor of retaining all — Supreme Court Judges Ginger K. Gooch and Kelly C. Broniec, and Southern District Court of Appeals Judges Becky J.W. Borthwick and Jennifer R. Growcock. All four also won their district and state retentions, as did every other judge on the ballot statewide.

Unopposed candidates who claimed victory, with their vote totals, include: Circuit Judge David Cole, 13,997; Circuit Judge Alan Blankenship, 13,917; Northern Commissioner Gary Schad, 6,534; Southern Commissioner Gene Robbins, 7,480; Sheriff Danny Boyd, 13,076; Assessor Sherry Smith, 14,217; Coroner Gary Swearingen, 14,148; Public Administrator Sam Madsen, 13,886.

Barry County voting trends

The nation saw an uptick in absentee voting this election, and Barry County was no different. In 2020, about 3,800 people voted early or by absentee ballot, and this year, the number ballooned to about 5,000.

Joyce Ennis, Barry County clerk, said the uptick required her to hire two more staff to help in the final days of two-week no-excuse absentee voting.

“We had 500 voters two days, and every day of twoweek no-excuse voting we had more than 200 voters,” she said. “It slowed our work down some, but the wait to vote absentee was never more than 5 minutes.”

In total, 4,945 of 23,849 registered voters cast ballots early, accounting for 20.73% of the total number of votes.

On election day, the Ozark/Crane Creek precinct in the northwest corner of the county had the highest percentage turnout at 62.41%, with 885 of the 1,418 voters casting ballots. The lowest turnout came in Cassville, where just 1,535 of 4,685 voters, or 32.76%, took to the polls. However, that figure does not include the number of Cassville precinct voters who may have cast ballots early.

Following is each precinct in Barry County and their voter turnouts: Butterfield: 422 ballots, 926 voters, 45.57% turnout Cassville: 1,535 ballots, 4,685 voters, 32.76% turnout Exeter: 662 ballots, 1,426 voters, 46.42% turnout Golden: 574 ballots, 1,048 voters, 54.77% turnout Jenkins: 359 ballots, 604 voters, 59.44% turnout Kings Prairie: 618 ballots, 1,025 voters, 60.29% turnout Monett: 2,110 ballots, 4,402 voters, 47.93% turnout Ozark/Crane Creek: 885 ballots, 1,418 voters, 62.41% turnout Purdy: 838 ballots, 1,712 voters, 48.95% turnout Roaring River: 536 ballots, 1,066 voters, 50.28% turnout Seligman: 561 ballots, 1,197 voters, 46.87% turnout Shell Knob: 958 ballots, 1,797 voters, 53.31% turnout Washburn: 712 ballots, 1,415 voters, 50.32% turnout Wheaton: 596 ballots, 1,128 voters, 52.84% turnout

Write-ins

Ennis said on Nov. 6, she fielded many questions about write-in votes. Information provided by Chrissy Peters, Director of Elections at the Secretary of State’s office, noted that primary election candidates who did not win their race are not eligible to be elected as write-in candidates in the General Election for the same office.

Write-in votes are also only counted for candidates who have filed a declaration of intent, with the proper election authority, to be a write-in candidate.