The latest local news, weather and high school sports in and around Columbia and Jefferson City

COLUMBIA, MO. -- County Clerk Wendy Noren predicts about half of Boone County’s voters will show up at the polls on Election Day.

Noren said about 60,000 of Boone County’s 117,000 registered voters will cast ballots at her precincts.

Noren said the Nov. 2 turnout should be a little higher than the midterm election four years years ago.

Columbia voters are deciding on several issues including the use of Tasers, several state house seats, a county presiding commissioner race and the senate race between Roy Blunt and Robin Carnahan.

MU Political Science Professor Peverill Squire said the races will most likely tip in favor of the Republican Party.

Squire predicts Republicans will maintain control of the state legislature and we’ll probably see more Republicans sent back to congress than Democrats.

“It probably won’t change the world on November third, but it will lead to a somewhat different set of perspectives on taxes and on government spending,” Squire said.

Squire said both major parties spent a lot of money on advertising, but it’s the Republicans that will enjoy an upswing in politics.

Your local polling place closes tonight at 7 p.m.