Where to go, and what to know, on Election Day in Kansas City area

After all the advertisements, debates and October surprises, the time has finally come to vote.

And although Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton are still making headlines, there’s a slew of other races in the Sunflower and Show-Me states for jobs that will be key long after the ballots are counted.

Here’s a guide on where to go — and where to click — to make sure you’re ready Tuesday.

Kansas City and Jackson County

Polls in Missouri are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday. People in line to vote by 7 p.m. will be allowed to cast a ballot.

Voters who live in Kansas City can check their status here. Put in your last name and date of birth, and you can find your polling place and a list of races you’ll see on the ballot.

The Kansas City Board of Election Commissioners can be reached at 816-842-4820.

The Jackson County Election Board also has a list of polling places, as well as an online portal where voters can enter their name and date of birth to look up voting information. The board can be reached for questions at 816-325-4600.

Registered Missouri voters have to present a type of identification, according to the Missouri secretary of state’s office. A list of those documents can be found here.

There’s a slew of big races in Missouri this year, including the U.S. Senate race between incumbent Republican Roy Blunt and Democrat Jason Kander that is attracting national attention. The race could help decide which party controls the Senate.

Missouri voters also will decide a number of ballot questions. The Star explained those here.

Johnson and Wyandotte counties

People in Johnson County can check their voter status, find their polling place and view a sample ballot by searching their records here. Polls in Johnson County are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. The polls in Wyandotte are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

While the state’s proof-of-citizenship requirement has been debated in court, the state’s voter ID requirement has stood pat. Kansas voters are required to show a form of photo identification, which can include a driver’s license or a U.S. passport.

Advanced voting has been strong so far in Kansas and will continue in both counties until noon Monday.

Johnson County voters can find a list of early voting sites here, and Wyandotte County voters can click here to find their respective early voting sites.

The Star’s voter guides, which include candidate profiles, an overview of the election climate and polling information can be found here.

Johnson County also has a list of all its polling places available online. The phone number for the Johnson County Election Office is 913-715-6800.

Wyandotte County voters can find their polling place by calling 913-573-8500.

Kansas voters can also look up their voting information and find their polling place by entering their information at the secretary of state’s website. All you need to do is put in your address and ZIP code to learn more about where you can cast your ballot.

The only major statewide race on the ballot in Kansas is the senate race between Republican incumbent Jerry Moran and Democrat Patrick Wiesner.

Further down the ballot, every seat in the Kansas Legislature is up for election this year. Five of the state’s seven Supreme Court justices are up for retention votes.

The area also has a tight congressional race in the 3rd District, with Democrat Jay Sidie trying to oust Rep. Kevin Yoder, the Overland Park Republican who has held the seat for three terms.

Election day problems

The United States Department of Justice will have a phone number to call, and attorneys at the ready, for issues relating to voter rights on election day.

A release from the department gives two numbers for people to call — 1-800-253-3931 or 202-307-2767 — if voters think they have experienced something that violates federal voting laws.

The Missouri secretary of state’s office also has an elections integrity unit, according to the office’s website. Elections complaints can be made in Missouri by calling 1-800-669-8683.

Those with election issues in Kansas can call the secretary of state’s office at 785-296-4561.

This story was originally published November 7, 2016 at 7:00 AM.