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. You can check your voter status and start the registration process online 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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Wyandotte County voters will be asked in November's election if they want to add a special tax for health that could also support other services for unhoused residents. Currently, the county only offers a temporary shelter that's open on the winter's coldest nights. -
The legal back-and-forth over Missouri's congressional maps is unprecedented in American politics. Current 5th District U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II and his Republican opponent, state Sen. Rick Brattin, share their thoughts on what transpired in the courts — and what it may mean for November. -
The 8th Circuit Court will hear arguments Thursday as Republican officials attempt to institute a redrawn congressional map for November's election. But they face a narrow legal path after a U.S. Supreme Court stay and a state ruling that the map never took effect. -
The lawsuit accuses Secretary of State Denny Hoskins of trying to influence elections and conspiring to make up a whistleblower complaint. Another lawsuit filed against Hoskins accuses him of breaking state law in his actions around the congressional map referendum. -
At the center of the case is a Missouri law that says the secretary of state must pay between $100 and $500 to an aggrieved person if the officeholder “neglect[s] or refuse[s] to perform any of the duties enjoined on him by law." -
Republican Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach wants voters to judge him by his record but Democratic challenger Chris Mann is making that record a target. We’ll have a look at the race for Kansas attorney general. Plus: a recap of last week's rollercoaster over congressional maps in Missouri. -
In front of a vocal Kansas State Fair audience, Democratic Leawood pastor Adam Hamilton attacked Republican Sen. Roger Marshall on agriculture issues including immigration and beef imports. -
At the State Fair debate, Democrat Cindy Holscher tied Republican Ty Masterson to former Gov. Sam Brownback, while Masterson compared Holscher to national Democrats. Both hope to court independent voters. -
Missouri's Secretary of State informed local election authorities on Thursday to use the 2022 map, a reversal of his previous directions to election clerks. -
U.S. District Judge Stephen Clark's last-minute order temporarily prevents Secretary of State Denny Hoskins from using any map other than the one passed in 2025 — a move that will almost certainly be appealed.
