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.
State primary elections in Missouri and Kansas are on Aug. 4, 2026. Find our primary election guide here.
Find live election results from Missouri and Kansas.
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, 2026
- Kansas voter registration deadline for primary: July 14, 2026
- Advance voting begins in Kansas: July 15, 2026
- Primary 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
- General election day: Nov. 3, 2026
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Missouri polling places are open from 6 a.m.-7 p.m. on Election Day, Aug. 4. See results as they come in for U.S. House primary contests and constitutional amendment questions. -
Kansas polling places are open from at least 7 a.m.-7 p.m. on Election Day, Aug. 4. See results as they come in for Kansas statewide offices, U.S. Senate and U.S. House primary contests and a constitutional amendment question. -
Missouri's ban on hemp-derived THC drinks starts Nov. 12. But, if Congress gives final approval to a short-term funding bill and the president signs it, the beverages could stay on shelves longer. -
The coalition of labor and progressive says it will target Republican lawmakers who helped repeal voter-approved paid sick leave. The money is just a fraction of the eventual total that will be spent to influence the 145 Missouri General Assembly races between both major parties on the November ballot. -
Missouri's candidates are set for the November general election under a redrawn congressional map. But with Kansas City's three districts carved to specifically benefit Republicans, even longtime U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II faces a tough race. -
Both of the cases are moving quickly because Missouri law sets a Sept. 8 deadline for court orders adding questions to the November ballot. -
With an early September cutoff for changes to the Missouri ballot, the chief justice asked for "sufficient time for expedited appellate review" of the complex issues. Because if the referendum is approved, it would also throw the results of the Aug. 4 primary into question. -
Despite the backing of Gov. Mike Kehoe, proposed constitutional amendments that would have made it more difficult for citizens to change the constitution and start the process of eliminating the state income tax were overwhelmingly rejected by Missouri voters. -
Of the seven races a Democratic campaigning organization has targeted to hold or flip in Kansas, six are in the Kansas City area. -
State Sen. Rick Brattin was selected by voters during last week's primary election as the Republican candidate for Missouri's 5th Congressional District, a seat currently held by Democratic U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II. The 5th District is expected to lean more Republican under newly drawn congressional maps.
