Why Kansas City metro voters must go to the polls in Nov. 4 elections | Opinion
Editor’s note: Find all our endorsements on this Election Recommendations page, and read our round-up of local contested elections.
A year ago I spoke to at least eight audiences around the Kansas City metro about the 2024 elections. We talked about voting and using or losing your rights, and many people were worried about representation, whether their voice would be heard and the consequences of lack of choices in candidates.
One year later, many of us — no matter whom you voted for — cannot believe where we are.
Life looks, well, different. Choices made in our nation’s capital by our elected officials have changed things here on the ground, where we live. Maybe you voted to make those choices, and maybe you voted but didn’t believe this is what would happen. Maybe you didn’t vote at all.
Some of you are out of work right now because of the government shutdown. Others are working extra jobs to make ends meet as prices skyrocket.
In the midst of all the things you have to think about, I need to remind you that there’s another election on Tuesday, Nov. 4.
You might be saying (with a heavy sigh, eyes rolling): Why should I care about this election? These races are not presidential or even congressional. True, the midterm elections are next year in 2026.
But you know what is happening in less than a month? Local elections. And if you don’t believe that’s important, look at what’s on the ballots around the area :
On the ballot
Mayoral elections in DeSoto, Edgerton, Fairway, Gardner, Lake Quivira, Merriam, Mission, Mission Hills, Mission Woods, Overland Park, Roeland Park, Spring Hill, Westwood Hills and Wyandotte County.
Council or ward elections in all of the aforementioned districts, plus Leawood, Lenexa, Olathe, Prairie Village, Shawnee and Westwood.
School board elections in Blue Valley, DeSoto, Gardner-Edgerton, Olathe, Shawnee Mission and Spring Hill, along with community college board elections in Johnson County and Kansas City, Kansas.
That’s 14 municipalities potentially getting new leadership, and even more maybe changing the people who represent you in your community. That’s real change in school districts that could affect your city and your kids.
There are even more local elections that I haven’t mentioned, from water districts to drainage districts to public utilities, and I encourage you to look at the ballots where you live. You can find them by going to your state and county election boards.
The Star is covering the election, both on the news side and in opinion, where we will endorse issues and candidates in many of the races that are contested. Our first endorsement posts today, in the Prairie Village question on whether to abandon its current form of government.
I’m writing about this now, because I want you to be aware of the candidates and the issues, and to make sure that you do, indeed, vote. Every year we report on the sad voter turnout, especially in a nonpresidential election year. This year could be a record on low turnout and choice.
Lack of choice in uncontested races
The American Legislative Exchange Council, a voluntary membership organization of state legislators, has expressed concern about low voter turnout but also an increase in uncontested races. Contested races are preferred so that voters can make a choice between candidates. Uncontested races generally elected the one candidate listed.
The council, of which Kansas and Missouri elected officials are members, looked at uncontested race data from Ballotpedia. (Kansas members include Speaker Dan Hawkins, Senate President Ty Masterson, and Sen. Renee Erickson. On the Missouri side, Rep. Jim Murphy, Sen. Jill Carter, Sen. Nick Schroer and Rep. Ben Baker.)
Through September 2025, Ballotpedia reported on 24,294 elections across 46 states: 17,907 (74%) were uncontested and 6,387 (26%) were contested. Kansas elections so far in 2025 followed the trend, but Missouri had a greater rate of contested races.
In Kansas’ 21 elections held through September 2025, 16 (76.2%) were uncontested and only 5 (23.8%) were contested. That’s a terrible ratio. However, in Missouri’s 42 elections held through September, 19 (45.2%) were uncontested and 23 (54.8%) were contested. That’s nearly 50-50 but still, it could be better. It means in nearly 50% of races, Missouri voters didn’t have a choice.
In the coming days and weeks, The Star Editorial Board will publish endorsements on our Election Recommendations page. Our news team will report on elections in an upcoming Voter’s Guide.
We are devoting significant time and resources to our local elections. We believe they are that important, and we think you should, too.
This story was originally published October 14, 2025 at 5:08 AM.
