Abby Cambiano
Bryan Stalder
Northeast News

November 6 is only a week a way, and voters will have numerous decisions to make on election day. In addition to a lengthy ballot, it is a mid-term election year, so high voter turnout is expected. This could be a recipe for long lines at the polls, so Northeast News has created an election guide that will help voters study all of the candidates and issues in advance.

We have also created a “cheat sheet” for our readers to write down their votes in advance, which can then be brought to the polls and used for personal reference while voting, reducing the amount of time one spends in the polling booth, and hopefully moving the line faster. Look for that on page 7.

The deadline for registering to vote in Missouri was Wednesday, October 10. Voters should receive a voter registration card in the mail telling them their polling location. If you do not receive a voter registration card, you can check your registration status at https://www.kceb.org/voters/status/.

Identification is required by law to vote in the state of Missouri. Valid forms of identification include your voter registration card, driver’s license, state ID, U.S. passport, military ID, or a paycheck or utility bill with your name and address.

If you are registered to vote but arrive at the polls without a valid form of identification, you can still vote with a provisional ballot. It will only be counted if your signature matches your voter registry, or if you return with a valid ID.

A recent court ruling states that election authorities cannot require voters without identification to sign an affidavit when requesting a provisional ballot.

Absentee voting is also available at Union Station in the Election Board Absentee Office through November 5 at 5:00 p.m. Voters may call 816-842-4820 ext. 227 to learn more about absentee voting.

Can’t get to the polls because of transportation issues? RideKC will provide free rides all day on bus routes serving Kansas City, Johnson County, Wyandotte County and Independence.

“Exercising the right to vote is so important that we want to make it as easy as possible to get to the polls,” said KCATA President and CEO Robbie Makinen. “We are grateful to our regional transit partners in Johnson County, Independence and KCK for agreeing to again make this a truly regional transit initiative.”

Voters can use the RideKC app, call (816) 221-0660 or go to RideKC.org to find their route. Paratransit riders should call 816-842-9070 to arrange a ride.

Uber has teamed up with Google to launch an in-app feature that will help users locate their polling place and request a ride. New Uber customers can use code “VOTETODAY” to get $20 off their first ride.

Lyft will provide 50 percent off rides across the country on Election Day and free rides to under-served communities that face significant obstacles to transportation.

VoterDrive will provide those who sign up a free Uber ride to vote (up to $10). Register for your free ride on their website www.voterdrive.us.