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Missouri Secretary Of State | Staying Focused Virtually | Police Interactions & Political Engagement

By Steve Kraske,
Danie Alexander, Luke X. Martin, Mackenzie Martin
Published September 28, 2020 at 4:24 PM CDT
Voters at Voy Spears, Jr. Elementary School in Lee's Summit line the sidewalk while waiting their turn to cast a ballot two years ago.
Carlos Moreno
/
KCUR 89.3
Research by a University of Kansas professor found that negative interactions with police can make you less likely to vote.

Jay Ashcroft is overseeing elections and running for reelection, a new app aims to help students stay on-task and a KU researcher says traumatic interactions with police make you less likely to vote.

Segment 1: Missouri's Secretary of State is confident about the integrity of the election system the state has in place.

Jay Ashcroft says after weathering three elections with the new mail-in and absentee voting rules in place, he feels ready for November 3 and says he's keeping tabs on potential election interference so Missourians don't have to. As for his reelection campaign, Ashcroft brushed aside criticism from his Democratic opponent that he is not closely attuned to the needs of Missourians.

Segment 2, beginning at 15:21: A new app helps students stay focused while learning virtually.

Researchers at the University of Kansas created I-Connect to help students self-monitor their productivity from home to help them stay on-task. Its use could also extend to those working from home. The new app currently has 500 users and growing.

  • Howard Wills, I-Connect lead developer and associate research professor of educational psychology at the University of Kansas

Segment 3, beginning at 27:07: The more contact you have with the police, the less likely you are to vote or engage in politics.

A study conducted by KU researcher Brandon Davis reveals that the impact of interactions with law enforcement on well-being and political involvement can be great. Davis says traumatic incidents with the police can have a lasting impact on whether you register to vote or even vote at all.

  • Brandon Davis, assistant professor of public affairs & administration at the University of Kansas
Tags
Up To Date MissouriTalk ShowresearchUniversity of KansasLawrenceremote learningappstechnologypoliticspoliceJay AshcroftMissouri Secretary of StateElection 2020votingelection security
Steve Kraske
When I host Up To Date each morning at 9, my aim is to engage the community in conversations about the Kansas City area’s challenges, hopes and opportunities. I try to ask the questions that listeners want answered about the day’s most pressing issues and provide a place for residents to engage directly with newsmakers. Reach me at steve@kcur.org or on Twitter @stevekraske.
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Danie Alexander
As senior producer of Up To Date, I want our listeners to hear familiar and new voices that shine light on the issues and challenges facing the myriad communities KCUR serves, and to expose our audiences to the wonderful and the creative in the Kansas City area. Just as important to me is an obligation to mentor the next generation of producers to ensure that the important conversations continue. Reach me at alexanderdk@kcur.org.
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Luke X. Martin
As culture editor, I oversee KCUR’s coverage of race, culture, the arts, food and sports. I work with reporters to make sure our stories reflect the fullest view of the place we call home, so listeners and readers feel primed to explore the places, projects and people who make up a vibrant Kansas City. Email me at luke@kcur.org.
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Mackenzie Martin
Whether it’s something happening right now or something that happened 100 years ago, some stories don’t fit in the short few minutes of a newscast. As a podcast producer and reporter at KCUR Studios, I help investigate questions and local curiosities in a way that brings listeners along for adventures with plot twists and thought-provoking ideas. Sometimes there isn’t an easy answer in the end – but my hope is that we all leave with a greater understanding of the city we live in. Reach me at mackenzie@kcur.org.
See stories by Mackenzie Martin