Election Information

APRIL 7, 2026 GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION


OVERVIEW

On Tuesday, April 7, 2026, the City of Odessa will hold its General Municipal Election to select a Mayor and Board of Aldermen members for Ward 1, Ward 2, and Ward 3.

In addition to electing City officials, voters will also consider two important ballot measures:

  • Proposition U – Transportation Use Tax
    Shall the City of Odessa, Missouri, impose a local use tax at the same rate as the local sales tax rate, currently Two and One-Half Percent (2.5%), to provide revenue for street maintenance, street improvements, and transportation purposes; provided that if the sales tax rate is reduced or raised by voter approval, the local use tax rate shall also be reduced or raised by the same action?
    If approved, Proposition U would help fund vital street maintenance and transportation improvements throughout the City with revenue gained from a local use tax on goods purchased from out-of-state vendors, ie, internet purchases.

  • Public Safety Sales Tax Proposition
    Shall the City of Odessa, Missouri, impose a citywide sales tax of Three-Eighths of One Percent (3/8 of 1%) for a period not to exceed thirty (30) years from the date it is first imposed, for the purpose of improving the public safety of the City, including to pay debt service on financing obligations to construct, improve, equip, and maintain a police station, with expenditures subject to oversight by a citizen advisory committee to be established by the Board of Aldermen?
  • If approved, this measure will provide dedicated funding for public safety improvements, including a new or improved police facility, with accountability ensured through citizen oversight.

Offices to Be Filled

  • Mayor – Two-Year Term
  • Alderman, Ward 1 – Two-Year Term
  • Alderman, Ward 2 – Two-Year Term
  • Alderman, Ward 3 – Two-Year Term

Voter Registration

To be eligible to vote in this election, individuals must:

  • Be a U.S. Citizen
  • Be 18 years of age or older on Election Day
  • Reside within the city limits of Odessa
  • Be a registered voter by the fourth Wednesday prior to the election

For additional information on voter registration, polling locations, or absentee ballots, please visit the Lafayette County Clerk’s Office Website or contact their office directly.

Filing for Candidacy

Filing for candidacy opens and closes as follows:

  • Opens: Tuesday, December 9, 2025, at 8:00 am
  • Closes: Tuesday, December 30, 2025, at 5:00 pm

Filing must be completed in person at the City Clerk’s Office during regular business hours:
8:30 am – 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday, at City Hall, 228 S 2nd Street, Odessa, Missouri.

City Hall will be closed on December 24 and 25, 2025, in observance of the Christmas holiday, and may close in the even of inclement weather.

Candidate Qualifications

  • Mayor: Must be at least 25 years old, a registered voter, and a resident of Odessa for one year prior to election.
  • Aldermen: Must be at least 18 years old, a registered voter, a resident of Odessa for one year prior to election, and reside within the ward they represent.

Pursuant to RSMo 115.347, no candidate’s name shall appear on the official ballot unless a signed and sworn Declaration of Candidacy is filed with the City Clerk within the required time period. Candidates will appear on the ballot in the order they filed.

Disqualifications

Candidates may not file if they:

  • Have been found guilty of or pled guilty to certain felonies or misdemeanors, and/or
  • Are delinquent in the payment of state, local, or municipal taxes.

Withdrawal of Candidacy

Candidates wishing to withdraw must file a written notice of withdrawal with the City Clerk no later than 5:00 pm on the 17th Tuesday before the election.

Polling Information

Election Date: Tuesday, April 7, 2026
Polls Open: 6:00 am – 7:00 pm

For complete information on voting locations, registration, or absentee voting, contact the Lafayette County Clerk's Office Website.

Additional Resources