Fact Sheet: 2022 Special Primary for Board of Aldermen President

City voters cast ballots today in the special primary for President of the Board of Aldermen (PBOA).  The vacancy is left by former President Reed, who resigned and pleaded guilty to bribery charges. 

The primary is an important benchmark for voters and candidates before November’s special election. 

Information on the new special election:

• Before “Prop D for Democracy,” city law did NOT require special elections for PBOA vacancies: this powerful office would be filled by a politician without voter input. 

  • Under Prop D, city ordinance now requires an election, giving St. Louisans representation, accountability, and a voice where they previously had none. 

• The primary narrowed the field to only eligible, viable candidates. 

  • Because the election is nonpartisan under Prop D, distracting “vanity candidates” were not able to simply pay a political party fee to appear on the ballot.

  • Mark Kummer was removed from the primary due to residency requirements, preventing this confusing and contentious episode from affecting the general election. 

• The primary creates more informed voters and more responsive candidates.

  • The primary helps communities see levels of support, who voted, and who didn’t vote. Then they can encourage their family, friends, and neighbors to hold politicians accountable and increase voter turnout in high stakes general elections.

  • For candidates, the primary is a better poll than money can buy. Today’s primary helps campaigns understand levels of voter support and adjust their platforms based on real-time voter feedback.

  • Primaries help voters and candidates prepare for important general elections.

• The new election system increases accountability in city government by ensuring that the winner is the candidate with the broadest support. Voters select as many candidates as they like (approval voting), and the top 2 move from the primary to the general election.

  • Without this system, winners often won primaries with less than 37%.

  • It passed as “Proposition D for Democracy” in November 2020 with 68% of the vote. 

  • The system is designed to work with any number of candidates.

Additional information regarding today’s special primary:

• For today’s election only, the City has decreased the number of polling locations from 70 to 15. Thanks to new technology however, voters can go to any of the 15 polling sites to cast a ballot.

• Polls opened at 6am and will close at 7pm.

• New Voter ID laws passed last session in the Missouri General Assembly took effect during today’s election. Voters may still cast a provisional ballot if they do not have adequate photo ID.

• Polling locations:

  • Lexington School (5030 Lexington Avenue)

  • Nance Elementary School (8959 Riverview Blvd.)

  • Herbert Hoover Boys and Girls Club (2901 N. Grand Ave)

  • Missouri School for the Blind (3867 Magnolia Ave)

  • Salvation Army Temple Corps located (2740 Arsenal St)

  • Betty Wheeler Classical Junior Academy (5031 Potomac)

  • Carondelet Library located (6800 Michigan Ave)

  • Woodward School (725 Bellerive Blvd)

  • Buder Library (4401 Hampton Ave)

  • Schlafly Library (225 N. Euclid)

  • Metro Academic (4015 McPherson Ave)

  • Froebel School (3709 Nebraska Ave)

  • Friendly Temple MB Church (5544 ML King Dr)

  • Walnut Park Library (5760 W. Florissant)

  • Julia Davis Library (4415 Natural Bridge)