April 2nd, 2026 Local News
St. Francois Co., Mo. (KFMO) - St. Francois County voters will experience a major change when they head to the polls for the April election, which is now just days away.
For the first time, the county will use a new voting system that allows registered voters to cast their ballots at any of four main voting centers across the county. County Clerk Kevin Engler says the new system marks a significant shift in how elections will be conducted in St. Francois County.
Voting on Election Day, Tuesday, April 7, 2026, will take place from 6 a.m. until 7 p.m. Voters may choose from four countywide locations, including North County High School in the back gym, Mineral Area College in the MACTech Building, the Weber Road Voting Center, and the First State Community Center, formerly known as the Centene Center.
In addition to those four locations, the Bismarck and Leadwood polling stations will still be open to make voting easier for residents who are used to voting there. However, voters from those communities are not limited to those polling places and may also cast their ballots at any of the four countywide voting centers.
Engler says there are a couple of key reasons for the transition. One of the biggest is accessibility. Some of the county’s previous polling places were not fully ADA accessible, and the new setup is intended to ensure all voters have access to polling locations that better meet those needs.
Another major reason for the change is cost savings. Under the previous system, ballots had to be pre-printed for specific precincts, often resulting in many unused ballots being destroyed after the election. The new system is expected to reduce that waste and save taxpayers thousands of dollars.
For those wanting to vote before Election Day, early voting is still available. Residents may vote early on Friday, April 3, 2026, from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. and on Saturday, April 4, 2026, from 8 a.m. until noon.
County officials are encouraging voters to take note of the new process and plan ahead before heading to the polls.