Kennett, Mo. Voters Pass Smoking Ban (Update)

Voters in the city of Kennett, Mo. passed an advisory smoking ban by a 68-32 percent margin on Tuesday night, according to a report from KFVS-TV. The vote comes on the same day that St. Joseph, Mo. voters also voted for a smoking ban.

With the passage of the measure, the city council will now be charged with approving it. If they do, smoking will be prohibited in enclosed public places, places of employment, private clubs, within five feet or outside entrances, operable windows and ventilation systems of enclosed areas where smoking is prohibited.

The ban does provide for some exemptions, however, including places where more than 50 percent of the business deals in tobacco sales. Private residences that are not used as a child, adult or health care facility are also exempted, as are outdoor places of employment and bard and taverns that have licenses held by a charitable, religious, or veteran’s organization.

Kennett is located in the bootheel of Missouri, 210 miles south of St. Louis and 110 miles northwest of Memphis, Tenn. It is home to just under 11,000 residents.

Update (April 9, 2014): The Daily Dunkin Democrat reports that final vote totals were 357 in favor of the ordinance and 169 against. They estimated voter turnout at being less than 10%. An earlier version of this story omitted that this was an advisory election and not a binding one, meaning the city council now takes up the matter.