ANNOUNCEMENTS
NEWS RELEASE
November 3, 2026 General Election Information
Absentee ballots for the November General Election will be available on September 22, 2026. In person absentee voting is available in the County Clerk’s office during normal business hours- 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The last day to register to vote for the November 3, 2026 Election
is October 7, 2026
Missouri law requires that requests for absentee ballots must be received by 5:00 p.m. on the Second Wednesday prior to Election Day (October 21st) if the ballot is to be mailed. You must furnish your name, physical address, date of birth, last four digits of your Social Security Number, reason for voting absentee and your signature. Request forms are located on the lawrencecountymo.org website.
Requests for applications by guardians or relatives within the second degree by consanguinity or affinity must be made in person at the County Clerk’s office.
The Courthouse office of the County Clerk will be open for absentee voting
from 9am to noon on Saturday, October 31st. The deadline for absentee voting in person in the office of the Election Authority is 5:00 p.m. on the day before the election (November 2nd).
NO EXCUSE EARLY VOTING begins October 20, 2026 in the County Clerk’s office during normal business hours.
County clerk to conduct public test of voting equipment Oct. 14 - The Lawrence County Clerk will be testing the automatic tabulating equipment on Wednesday October 14, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. All interested parties are invited to attend. Election Day is November 3, 2026. (RSMo 115.233)
County issues burn ban - The Lawrence County Commission has issued a burn ban resolution for the unincorporated portion of Lawrence County pursuant to RSMo 192.300. The Resolution said the County Commission is exercising its emergency management authority under RSMo 44.090 to advance the health and safety interest of the county's residents and to cooperate with all other state and political subdivisions addressing the clear and present danger of the extreme fire hazards in Lawrence County.
"... The County Commission issue(s) this burn ban resolution as a public declaration to be followed by all persons located within the unincorporated area of Lawrence County until such conditions for issuance of this emergency declaration have ceased to exist and the County Commission repeals this Resolution; and
"... The County Commission declares the following acts to be prohibited within the boundaries of the County by all citizens and persons located within such boundaries:
1) Intentional, careless or negligent use of materials that may result in combustion of any kind damaging property of any kind in Lawrence County; and
2) Building, maintaining, attending, or using any fire works, open fire or camp fire, except in permanent stoves or fireplaces or attended grill; and
3) Any prescribed burning unless specifically approved in writing by the County Emergency Management Director or other legally authorized authority."
The Commission further directs the emergency management operations' personnel to coooperate with all other public entities and the state in addressing the fire conditions that exist in the County pursuant to RSMo 44.110.
Official primary election results released - The Lawrence County Clerk's Office announces official results from the August 2026 primary. Some 28% of registered voters cast ballots. Countians were overwhelmingly in favor of Amendment 1 (78% in favor) and Amendment 2 (78% in favor). They were overwhelmingly against Amendment 4 (79%) and Amendment 5 (84%).
Collector's office hiring seasonal help - Lawrence County Collector's Office will be hiring part-time seasonal help. Must be a high school graduate. Apply in person at the Historic Courthouse.
Center Creek bridge on Lawrence 1030 closed - A Lawrence County bridge over Center Creek on Lawrence 1030 has been closed and won’t reopen until repairs - or replacement - can be completed.The bridge is located in the western part of the county in Common II Road District. Lawrence County Commission, April 21, 2025
County adopts updated health ordinances - Lawrence County Commission has adopted updated health ordinances pertaining to wastewater treatment systems and food establishments. Lawrence County Commission, Nov. 27, 2024
Sign up for free property fraud notifications - Concerned about title theft? Lawrence County Recorder of Deeds Denise Massie invites people to sign up for a free notification if a deed is recorded in your name. The Recorder's web page has a link to take you step by step through the process.
Notice of Use Tax - Lawrence County, Missouri previously adopted a use tax, which is currently in effect. A use tax is the equivalent of a sales tax on purchases made from out-of-state vendors by in-state buyers and on certain taxable business transactions. The use tax rate for Lawrence County is currently 2.5 percent which is equal to the total local sales tax rate. Certain purchases from out-of-state vendors became subject to an expansion of the use tax effective on January 1, 2023, as provided by state law. If any local sales tax is repealed or the rate is reduced or raised by voter approval, the local use tax rate shall also be deemed to be repealed, reduced, or raised by the same action.
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