Election 2026
Are you ready to vote, Kansas City?
2026 is a midterm election year on the federal level, with this fall's contests deciding which party will control Congress. But it's turning out to be a critical year for the Kansas City region as well.
In Kansas and Missouri, voters will decide races for U.S. Senate, every U.S. House seat, governor and more. Critical constitutional amendments will appear on the ballots in both states. And around Kansas City, voters will decide a number of important bond issues and more.
General Election Day is on Nov. 3, 2026. Polls are open in Missouri from 6 a.m.-7 p.m. Polls are open in Kansas from at least 7 a.m.-7 p.m., although some counties maintain extended hours.
No matter which state you're voting from, KCUR wants to make sure you have all the information you need before you fill out your ballot.
Over the year, we'll be providing guides and resources for the 2026 election — plus interviews with candidates and spotlights on individual races.
Want to keep up with election news? Subscribe to KCUR's free morning newsletter, The Early Bird.
Voter tips
- Are you registered to vote? You can check your voter status and start the registration process online in Missouri and in Kansas.
- Do you know your polling place for Election Day? Check your location in Missouri and Kansas. Take note: It may have changed since the last time you voted.
- Do you have a photo ID? Both Kansas and Missouri require an ID to vote, but the accepted forms of identification differ by state. If you don’t bring proper ID, you’ll have to cast a provisional ballot.
- Do you know who represents you in the state legislature? Find out who's on your ballot. Look up your representatives in in Kansas and in Missouri.
2026 election dates & deadlines
Missouri voter registration deadline for primary:July 8Kansas voter registration deadline for primary:July 14Advance voting begins in Kansas:July 15Primary election day:Aug. 4Missouri voter registration deadline for general:Oct. 7Kansas voter registration deadline for general:Oct. 13- Advance voting begins in Kansas: Oct. 14
- Advance voting begins in Missouri: Oct. 20
- General election day: Nov. 3
- Missouri poll hours: 6 a.m.-7 p.m.
- Kansas poll hours: 7 a.m.-7 p.m. (note that some counties maintain longer hours)
All of the content below — and everything on our website — is available for free, always, no paywall or login needed. But if you want to support our journalism, you can become a member of KCUR here.
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Do you feel ready to vote this November? What races, candidates, amendments or other items are you most interested in? What information do you need to better understand your ballot? Text KCUR at 816-601-4777 to join the chat. -
The Kansas City Local Investment Commission, or LINC, helped over 70 high school seniors, first time voters, get to the polls on Election Day. -
The federal agency has sent monitors to Johnson and Wyandotte counties in Kansas and Jackson and Clay counties in Missouri. -
Kansas polling places are open from at least 7 a.m.-7 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 3. See results as they come in for U.S. Senate, U.S. House, governor and other statewide offices, and a constitutional amendment question. -
Missouri polling places are open from 6 a.m.-7 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 3. See results as they come in for the U.S. House contests, constitutional amendment and ballot questions. -
Voters in Missouri and Kansas are deciding some critical races and ballot measures today: constitutional amendments on abortion access, a tight U.S. Senate contest, a governor's race and more. But lower on the ballot is something just as important: judge retention elections. We'll break down how the judicial retention process works in both states and what voters should know before heading to the polls. -
With midterms finally upon us, KCUR’s Up To Date took a deeper look at the key races Kansas and Missouri voters will decide at the polls Tuesday, and answer questions submitted by listeners. -
If passed, the amendment would require a minimum 80% vote in both the Missouri House and Senate to modify a citizen-backed law or amendment. The amendment also prohibits the legislature from passing any bill “weakening citizens’ initiative or referendum powers.” -
Affordability is looming over the coming midterm elections, with new research revealing that almost a quarter of Midwestern households report having trouble paying their bills, mortgage, or rent. Plus: Missourians said “no” in August to a proposed amendment that would have made it harder to change the state constitution. Now, a different amendment could make it lawmakers to reverse voter-approved initiatives.
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The national organization DJs at the Polls is coming to Kansas for the first time, inspired by the competitive U.S. Senate race. They've hired local DJs to spin tunes outside more than a dozen polling stations Tuesday.
