1. At the general election in the year 1948 and every four years thereafter the qualified voters in each county in this state shall elect a county assessor. Such county assessors shall enter upon the discharge of their duties on the first day of September next after their election, and shall hold office for a term of four years, and until their successors are elected and qualified, unless sooner removed from office; provided, that this section shall not apply to the City of St. Louis. The assessor shall be a resident of the county from which such person was elected.

2. The office of county assessor is created in each county having township organization and a county assessor shall be elected for each township organization county at the next general election, or at a special election called for that purpose by the governing body of such county. If a special election is called, the state and each political subdivision or special district submitting a candidate or question at such election shall pay its proportional share of the costs of the election, as provided by section 115.065. Such assessor shall assume office immediately upon his election and qualification, and shall serve until his successor is elected and qualified under the provisions of subsection 1 of this section. Laws generally applicable to county assessors, their offices, clerks, and deputies shall apply to and govern county assessors in township organization counties, and laws applicable to county assessors, their offices, clerks, and deputies in third class counties and laws applicable to county assessors, their offices, clerks, and deputies in fourth class counties shall apply to and govern county assessors, their offices, clerks, and deputies in township organization counties of the respective classes, except that when such general laws and such laws applicable to third and fourth class counties conflict with the laws specially applicable to county assessors, their offices, clerks, and deputies in township organization counties, the laws specially applicable to county assessors, their offices, clerks, and deputies in township organization counties shall govern.