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SERVING THE VOTERS OF KANSAS CITY WITHIN JACKSON COUNTY
Residents of Kansas City in Cass, Clay and Platte Counties
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BALLOT INFORMATION

WHY IS ALL OF THIS INFORMATION ON THE BALLOT AND WHY IS IT WORDED THE WAY IT IS?

There are two ways an issue may be placed on the ballot. One is by referendum and the other is by citizen initiative.

Referendum - if a legislative body would prefer to have the voters decide an issue, they may vote to have the issue placed on the ballot. Some types of issues require direct voter approval. State and local law determines this.

Citizen Initiative - a potential candidate or interest group initiates a petition if they want to make or change a law. Once the Election Board certifies the petitions, the election date is set. The issue or candidate's name is then placed on the ballot.

WHO CREATES THE LANGUAGE ON THE BALLOT?

The language used on the Ballot for State Level issues (such as State Constitutional Amendments, Initiative and Referendum issues, and statutes referred by the Legislature to the people for a vote) comes from the State to each local election authority. Usually State issues will be in two parts:

  • a brief explanation of the proposal, and
  • a short description of the probable cost.

There will be a "full text" of the statewide issues posted at each polling site so that you may read it if you wish. The Secretary of State has customarily released a "plain language" description of each state issue. You may obtain copies of either the full text or the plain language description from the Kansas City Election Board or the Secretary of State.

Ballot wording for local issues - County, City, School Board, Metropolitan Junior College, Library District, or any others - originates from the specific local governmental body calling for the election. Sometimes a "full text" will be present at each polling place, but not necessarily. For a further explanation, voters are advised to contact the Clerk or Secretary of the specific entity whose election to which the issue relates.

WHO COUNTS THE BALLOTS?

Voted ballots are delivered to the Election Board after the polls close on Election Day. During elections in which a heavier turnout is anticipated, ballot boxes are collected twice. The first cards are collected at midday, and the remainder comes in after the polls close.

Before votes are counted, a bi-partisan team checks the ballot cases to ensure no tampering has occurred. Transfer cases are then opened, ballots are inspected and sent to the computerized tabulation center. Initial results are available by approximately 7:30 p.m. and periodically throughout the night until the final tabulation occurs. Election night results are available on this web site.