What you can & can’t do in Kansas & Missouri elections: Voting tips, rules, resources

Stories by Kansas City Star journalists, with AI summarization

As the 2024 elections get into full swing in Kansas and Missouri, voters must navigate various rules and resources to ensure their participation.

Recent mail delays in both states have raised concerns about timely USPS delivery of absentee ballots, so voters should act swiftly to mail their ballots or use alternative submission methods when needed. State laws prohibit wearing political attire at polling locations in order to avoid electioneering, while accessibility resources like mobile voting teams and ADA-compliant polling places aim to include home-bound and disabled voters.

For voters who need help making their choices for Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 5, samples ballots from each state and comprehensive voter guides by local media are available.

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories below were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.

Voters wait to fill out absentee ballots in Jackson County, July 30, 2024.

NO. 1: HOW MAIL DELAYS IN KANSAS AND MISSOURI COULD CREATE PROBLEMS IN THE 2024 ELECTION

Election officials in both states have noticed USPS delays impacting mail-in voting. Here’s how to ensure your ballot arrives in time to get counted. | Published September 14, 2024 | Read Full Story by Natalie Wallington and Eleanor Nash

Within minutes of the doors opening, election workers were handling the large turnout of Johnson County residents arriving for the first day of in-person advance voting for the 2024 General Election at The Arts and Heritage Center in Overland Park on Saturday, October 19, 2024.

NO. 2: CAN KANSAS, MISSOURI VOTERS WEAR POLITICAL ATTIRE TO VOTE? WHAT STATE LAWS SAY

As voters around Kansas City make their decisions on local leaders and the next president, they may want to be aware of what they’re wearing to the polls. | Published October 22, 2024 | Read Full Story by Joseph Hernandez

NO. 3: STUCK AT HOME? YOU STILL HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE. HERE ARE RESOURCES IN KANSAS CITY

Even if you can’t visit your polling place in person, accommodations exist to ensure you can participate in democracy. | Published September 12, 2024 | Read Full Story by Natalie Wallington

NO. 4: MISSOURI HAS 500,000 INACTIVE VOTERS. HOW CAN THEY CAST BALLOTS IN THE 2024 ELECTION?

Those who haven’t voted since the 2022 midterm or earlier should take note. | Published September 15, 2024 | Read Full Story by Eleanor Nash

NO. 5: HOW CLOSE CAN CANVASSERS GET TO MISSOURI POLLS? WHAT CAN THEY DO? HERE ARE STATE LAWS

Are people allowed to hand out items related to a ballot item outside of a polling location? Can they be inside the building? Here’s what Missouri law says. | Published October 24, 2024 | Read Full Story by Joseph Hernandez

Voters cast ballots for the primary election at the Midwest Genealogy Center on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, in Independence.

NO. 6: CAN YOU USE YOUR PHONE IN MISSOURI VOTING BOOTHS? WHAT TO KNOW FOR ELECTION DAY 2024

The Show Me State has laws governing what you can and cannot bring to your polling place. | Published October 28, 2024 | Read Full Story by Eleanor Nash

NO. 7: CAN YOU TRACK YOUR MAIL-IN BALLOT ONLINE IN MISSOURI? IT DEPENDS WHERE YOU LIVE

Kansas City voters are luckier than many others in Missouri. Here’s what to know. | Published October 29, 2024 | Read Full Story by Joseph Hernandez

NO. 8: ARE PEOPLE WATCHING YOU VOTE? WHAT PARTISAN POLL WATCHERS CAN & CAN’T DO IN KS, MO

Local parties have taken it upon themselves to recruit and train poll watchers ahead of Nov. 5. | Published October 24, 2024 | Read Full Story by Matthew Kelly and Kacen Bayless

NO. 9: WHAT AM I VOTING ON? HOW TO FIND YOUR 2024 SAMPLE BALLOT IN KANSAS AND MISSOURI

Know what you’re voting on in Jackson, Johnson, Clay, Platte and Wyandotte counties. | Published October 30, 2024 | Read Full Story by Eleanor Nash

NO. 10: MISSOURI VOTER GUIDE: AHEAD OF NOV. 5 ELECTION, SEE WHO AND WHAT WILL BE ON THE BALLOT

Where do the candidates on Missouri ballots stand on some of the biggest issues this election? Check out the 2024 KC Voter Guide, a collaboration between The Star and the KC Media Collective. | Updated September 14, 2024 | Read Full Story by The Kansas City Star and the Kansas City Media Collective

NO. 11: KANSAS VOTER GUIDE: SEE WHO AND WHAT WILL APPEAR ON YOUR BALLOT FOR NOV. 5 ELECTION

Where do the candidates on Kansas ballots stand on some of the biggest issues this election? Check out the 2024 KC Voter Guide, a collaboration between The Star and the KC Media Collective. | Published September 14, 2024 | Read Full Story by The Kansas City Star and the Kansas City Media Collective

NO. 12: CAN MISSOURI CHURCHES ENDORSE OR OPPOSE AMENDMENTS OR CANDIDATES? WHAT THE LAWS SAY

Religious institutions have to be careful of the messages they share, as veering too overtly political can risk their tax-exempt status as nonpartisan nonprofits. | Published October 27, 2024 | Read Full Story by Natalie Wallington

This report was produced with the help of AI tools, which summarized previous stories reported and written by McClatchy journalists. It was edited by journalists in our News division.