Cowgill, Missouri Public Records

Missouri residents can register to vote online at sos.mo.gov/elections through the Secretary of State's portal, which connects with the state driver license database. First-time registrants must meet basic requirements: U.S. Citizenship, Missouri residency, at least 17.5 years old (turning 18 by the next election), and not currently serving a sentence for a felony conviction or adjudicated as incapacitated. The registration deadline falls on the fourth Wednesday prior to any election. Those who have recently moved or changed addresses should update their registration at least 28 days before voting. The state doesn't require party registration, though voters may choose to affiliate with a party during the registration process. Municipal elections for the city are held in even-numbered years, typically each April, when positions including mayor, city council members, and other offices come up as terms expire. The community operates under a board of aldermen system with a mayor serving as chief executive. Election dates, candidate filings, and local ballot issues are posted at Cowgill City Hall and the Caldwell County Clerk's office. Candidate filing periods typically run from late January through late February for April elections. Given the town's small size, local elections sometimes go uncontested when incumbents run unopposed. Residents can find their assigned polling place using the Missouri Secretary of State's polling place lookup tool at voteroutreach.sos.mo.gov or by calling the Caldwell County Clerk directly. Polling locations are assigned by voter precinct, with local voters generally casting ballots at a location within or near the city. State law requires polls to remain open from 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM on election day. Missouri law makes various election records available to the public. Voter registration lists can be purchased from the Caldwell County Clerk for legitimate political purposes, though commercial solicitation is prohibited. Campaign finance reports for candidates and committees are filed with the Missouri Ethics Commission at mec.mo.gov and are searchable online. Missouri doesn't have a U.S. Senate seat up that year, but the election will include all Missouri House of Representatives seats, which carry two-year terms, and half of the Missouri Senate seats, which are staggered on four-year terms. Residents will elect their state representative and may vote for a state senator depending on the district cycle. County-wide races on the ballot will include some Caldwell County commission seats, county clerk, and other county offices on rotating schedules. Municipal races for the town, if scheduled for November 2026 rather than the traditional April date, would include mayor and aldermen positions. Voters should contact the Caldwell County Clerk in early 2026 for confirmed candidate lists and ballot issue information. Missouri offers absentee voting by mail for voters meeting specific criteria: absence from the jurisdiction on election day, incapacity or confinement due to illness or physical disability, religious belief or practice, employment as an election authority, incarceration (if still eligible to vote), or certified participation in an address confidentiality program. Absentee ballot applications are available at sos.mo.gov/elections or from the Caldwell County Clerk. Applications must be received by the second Wednesday prior to an election for mail ballots. The state also offers in-person absentee voting, which requires no excuse, beginning the second Tuesday prior to any election at the Caldwell County Clerk's office during designated hours.