Election 2026
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.
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.
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.
Voter tips
- Before you head to the polls, make sure you’re registered to vote. Voter registration deadlines have passed in both states, but you should double check your voter status in Missouri and in Kansas.
- Speaking of polling places, here’s where to find your voting location in Missouri and Kansas. Take note: Your polling place may have changed since the last time you voted.
- Both Kansas and Missouri require photo ID to vote, and the accepted forms of identification differ in each state. If you don’t bring proper ID, you’ll have to cast a provisional ballot.
- Want to know who represents you in the legislature? Look up your representatives in in Kansas and in Missouri.
Dates & deadlines
Missouri voter registration deadline for primary:July 8, 2026Kansas voter registration deadline for primary:July 14, 2026Advance voting begins in Kansas:July 15, 2026Primary election day:Aug. 4, 2026- Missouri voter registration deadline for general: Oct. 7, 2026
- Kansas voter registration deadline for general: Oct. 13, 2026
- Advance voting begins in Kansas: Oct. 14, 2026
- Advance voting begins in Missouri: Oct. 20, 2026
- General election day: Nov. 3, 2026
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Instead of defending the state high court’s ruling that a referendum on redistricting means using the congressional map from 2024, Catherine Hanaway’s office is asking for a reversal. -
Secretary of State Denny Hoskins is appealing the order to use the same congressional maps as 2024 to the U.S. Supreme Court. State law sets Tuesday as the deadline for changes to the Nov. 3 ballot. -
The Missouri Supreme Court's ruling means the congressional map from 2022 will be in place for the November general election, giving longtime Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II a stronger chance to keep his seat. -
In a stunning unanimous ruling, the Missouri Supreme Court blocked the state’s newly redrawn congressional maps from going into effect for the 2026 midterms, and ordered a referendum on the map to be placed on the November ballot. But Attorney General Catherine Hanaway says she will appeal the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court. -
Secretary of State Denny Hoskins said he would not stop election officials from placing a referendum on the ballot — or running the Nov. 3 election on an older congressional map. He tried, but failed, to get the Missouri Supreme Court to stay its ruling on Friday. -
The Respect Missouri Voters plan would make it much harder for lawmakers to overturn voter-approved ballot initiatives. -
The Missouri Supreme Court ruled that the state's voters will decide the fate of a plan aimed at ousting Democratic Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II. -
Rohlfing, a U.S. Army veteran, is running against Democrat Stacy Lake in November to become the next Jackson County executive. He says he would focus on providing “world class customer service” if elected. -
Republican Thomas Ross allegedly asked his former campaign manager to place cocaine and Adderall in Louise Secker's purse or car, according to the FBI. Ross narrowly won the GOP nomination for the Joplin-area 161st House District last month. -
The statewide television and radio spot was developed with help from an anti-abortion medical group and will air through Sept. 30. It references a recent judge's ruling that struck down dozens of challenged abortion regulations as unconstitutional.
