Remember to vote in Johnson and Wyandotte counties on Tuesday
Voters in Johnson County and Wyandotte County have several important local races on the ballot for Nov. 2.
Here’s what to know before you vote.
Then after the polls close, check back in with The Star for live results.
Johnson County elections
Polls are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at 151 locations. If you’re going to vote in person on Election Day, you need to do so at your assigned polling spot, and you need to bring an ID. Officials expect turnout on Tuesday to break records for a local election.
A lot is on the line, especially in Overland Park. The mayor’s seat is vacant for the first time in 16 years, and half of the City Council’s seats are up for grabs as well. In a lot of ways, the races are grappling with the identity of the city and how that might change as its population continues to shift, with tensions over issues like tax incentives for big developers and how to best manage growth.
Other Johnson County races to keep an eye on are the mayoral contests in Mission, Edgerton, Olathe, Merriam, Gardner and Spring Hill and the City Council contests in Olathe.
Read more on all of these races in our Johnson County voters’ guide.
Also, Tuesday gives voters a chance to weigh in on major school board seats in Olathe, Blue Valley and Shawnee Mission. These races have become pretty controversial as candidates have taken divisive stances on both local and national issues including opposing diversity initiatives and masks.
Read more on these races in our Johnson County school board voters’ guide.
Wyandotte County elections
On Tuesday, voters will select a mayor/CEO of the Unified Government along with members of the UG Board of Commissioners and the Board of Public Utilities.
The mayor’s race is the biggest item on the ballot, and we broke down the biggest differences between the two candidates and their stances on issues like immigration enforcement, taxes, utility charges and development here.
Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.. Like Johnson County, residents must vote at their assigned polling place, which can be found here, and you need to bring an ID.
Important reminder: If you have a mail ballot, it must be postmarked by Election Day and received by the Friday after the election. Or you can bring it to any polling location before 7 p.m. on Election Day.
