Questions to Ask Yourself Before Voting
Are you currently registered to vote? If no, or you’re not sure, you can learn more about registering to vote here. Even if you’re unsure if you’re registered, re-registering will update your information.
Is your voter registration up to date with your current address? If no, or you’re unsure, you can re-register to vote. Learn more here. If you’re unsure if your information is up to date, it’s always best to update it to be certain.
How do you plan to vote? You have a wide range of options in Missouri. You can vote in-person on Election Day, early in the two weeks before Election Day at select satellite poll locations, that are listed here when available, or vote absentee by mail or in-person (with an excuse) beginning 6 weeks prior to any election. Making a plan of how you vote will make voting a lot less stressful.
Where do I vote? You can find your polling place by using the Voter Lookup tool on the homepage. You can access it here. Note that you can vote at any poll in Kansas City within Jackson County if you vote on the Ballot Marking Device. If you’d prefer a pre-printed paper ballot, you will have to vote at your assigned home poll location, which you can find on the Voter Lookup tool here, or on the Voter Notification Card that is mailed out prior to any election.
What’s on the Ballot? You can view a Sample Ballot before heading out to vote by using the Voter Lookup tool here. This will present you with the sample ballot for the current election.
Important Dates to Remember
Registration Deadline: You must be registered to vote four weeks before any Election Day.
Absentee Ballots are sent out out six weeks prior to Election Day. An Absentee Ballot by mail will need to be requested. You can learn more here.
Early In-Person Absentee Voting: Opens six weeks prior to Election Day at the KCEB office for those with a valid excuse. A list of valid excuses can be found here. No-Excuse Absentee Voting, or early voting, opens two weeks before Election Day at select satellite polling locations across Kansas City. You can find these locations here when available.
Election Day Checklist
Do you have a valid Photo ID that is acceptable for voting? The acceptable forms of Photo ID for voting include the following
- Non-expired Missouri Driver’s License or Missouri Non-Driver’s ID
- Non-expired Military ID
- Non-expired US Passport
- Another Photo ID issued by the United States or State of Missouri that is not expired
- NOTE: Expired Photo IDs are valid IF they are expired after the date of the last federal election (Every 2 years in November).
Do you know where your polling place is?
Have you viewed a Sample Ballot?
Do you have transportation to and from your polling place?
If you have successfully answered all of these, you’re ready to go vote!
Questions & Concerns for Students
Federal Financial Aid: Where you register to vote will NOT impact your Federal Financial Aid such as Pell Grants or Federal Student Loans, or your dependency status for FAFSA.
Tuition Status: Being deemed out-of-state for tuition purposes does NOT prevent you from choosing to register to vote in your temporary address used for college. You may also register to vote at your permanent home address if you wish to do so.
Status as a Dependent on Your Parents Taxes: Being registered to vote at a different address from your parents does NOT prevent them from claiming you as a dependent on their taxes.
I’m under the age of 18 and would like to register to vote: You may register to vote at 17 1/2 years old. If you register to vote before the age of 18, you will automatically become registered on midnight of your 18th birthday. Learn more about registering to vote here.
Driver’s Licenses and/or Car Registrations: Although you may be required to obtain a Missouri Driver’s License and/or update your car registration when moving to Missouri as a new resident, registering to vote in Missouri has no impact on your driver’s license or car registration and is completely unrelated.