Students and St. Louis County residents went to the polls on Tuesday to cast their say on a sales tax increase for Metro, as campus leaders continued their mobilization effort to get students to turnout. With the future of public transit and sales taxes in the region on the line, students and administrators leading pro-Proposition A efforts worked feverishly to turn out as many students as possible before polls close at 7 p.m. Meanwhile, cash-starved local opposition called and e-mailed supporters and tried to gain as much media exposure as possible.

Chancellor Mark Wrighton on Monday called on community members to turn out for the April St. Louis County election to vote in favor of a sales tax for funding Metro, as Washington University continued efforts to mobilize the community around the measure.

St. Louis County voters approved the smoking ban measure Proposition N by an overwhelming margin in Tuesday’s election, which saw low turnout throughout the county.

St. Louis County voters will render their verdict on a controversial smoking ban ballot measure on Tuesday, in an election that is expected to have very low turnout.

On Nov. 3, St. Louis County voters will weigh in on Proposition N, which will ban smoking in enclosed public spaces, along with sidewalks and other outdoor spaces within 15 feet of the entrance to a public building. The ordinance would exempt casino gaming floors and bars that receive 25 percent or less of their gross sales from food.

St. Louis County Executive Charles Dooley signed a bill on Friday to put a Washington University-endorsed smoking ban referendum on the November ballot, following weeks of heated County Council meetings and public debate.

Following the introduction of a tobacco ban on all its campuses, effective July 2010, Washington University is endorsing a St. Louis County Council bill that would put a countywide, public indoor smoking ban on the November 2009 ballot.