Cole Camp, Missouri Public Records

Voters can register online through the Missouri Secretary of State's website at sos.mo.gov/elections, or by completing an application available at the Benton County Clerk's office, city hall, public libraries, and various state agencies. State law requires registration at least 28 days before an election. Voters must be U.S. Citizens, Missouri residents, and at least 17.5 years old to register, though they must be 18 to actually vote. Valid identification is required when casting a ballot in person. Municipal elections for mayor and city council positions take place in April of odd-numbered years, following Missouri's standard municipal election calendar. Information about local candidates and ballot measures specific to the community can be obtained from Cole Camp City Hall at 660-668-4411 and the Benton County Clerk. Residents also participate in county-wide, state, and federal elections at their assigned precinct polling location. Voters can find their specific polling place by contacting the Benton County Clerk's office or using the lookup tool at voteroutreach.sos.mo.gov. Missouri law permits absentee voting for specific reasons: absence from the jurisdiction on election day, illness or disability, religious belief or practice, employment as an election authority, incarceration for those still eligible to vote, and participation in the address confidentiality program. Under Missouri Sunshine Law and election statutes found in Chapter 115 RSMo, numerous election records are open to the public. These include voter registration lists excluding Social Security numbers and dates of birth, candidate financial disclosure reports, campaign finance reports filed with the Missouri Ethics Commission, candidate declaration forms, precinct-level election results, and voter history showing which elections a person participated in without revealing how they voted. These records are accessible through the Benton County Clerk's office and the Missouri Secretary of State's website. In 2026, local voters will decide Missouri state legislative races including State Senate District 21 and State House District 125, various county offices including County Clerk, Sheriff, Assessor, and other constitutional offices, and potentially local school board and special district positions. Absentee ballot applications can be obtained from the Benton County Clerk's office or downloaded from sos.mo.gov/elections. They must be received by the Wednesday before the election for mail ballots, though in-person absentee voting is available earlier.