Who and what are you voting for?

voting2REV.tif — Voting. The North-East Library is one of many local polling places for registered voters to cast a ballot. File Photo

By Joe Jarosz
Northeast News
October 29, 2014

KANSAS CITY, Missouri – Election day is right around the corner.

The election will be held Tuesday, Nov. 4, with polls open from 6 a.m. – 7 p.m. If you’ve been muting the channel every time a candidate commercial comes on and don’t know who’s running, don’t worry, we’re here to help. Voters are deciding on candidates running for State Auditor, U.S. Congress, the State House, Jackson County Legislature, party committees, as well as a city sales tax question and four state constitutional amendments.

Democrat John Rizzo is running unopposed in the state representative race for District 19. Running unopposed in the State Representative – District 23 races is Democrat Randy Dunn.

Running for the U.S. Representative – District 5 race is incumbent Emanuel Cleaver II, Republican Jacob Turk and Libertarian Roy Welborn.

Those running for the First District At-Large seat in Jackson County include Democrat Frank White and Republican Weldon Woodward. The winner will replace Theresa Garza Ruiz, who declined to seek a third term. The Royals Hall of Famer Frank White defeated Sherwood Smith in the August primary elections. Woodward ran unopposed during the primary.

Also up for grabs in Jackson County, incumbent County Executive Mike Sanders, Democrat, faces off against Republican Brice Stewart and Libertarian Richard Tolbert.

Voters will also be asked if 14 Missouri judges – ranging from Court of Appeals, Supreme Court and Circuit Courts – should be retained. Constitutional amendment issues range from:

• Whether or not voters want to require the governor to pay the public debt, to prohibit the governor from relying on revenue from legislation not yet passed when proposing a budget and to provide a legislative check on the governor’s decisions to restrict funding for education and other state services?

• Whether or not to permit voting in person or by mail for a period of six business days prior to and including the Wednesday before the election day in all general elections, but only if the legislature and the governor appropriate and disburse funds to pay for the increased costs of such voting

• Whether or not to allow relevant evidence of prior criminal acts to be admissible in prosecutions for crimes of a sexual nature involving a victim under eighteen years of age? If more resources are needed to defend increased prosecutions additional costs to governmental entities could be at least $1.4 million annually, otherwise the fiscal impact is expected to be limited.

Voters will also be asked to vote on two sales tax measures: whether or not Kansas City shall impose a sales tax of one – quarter percent for 25 years for the purpose of funding capital improvements and also whether or not Kansas City shall impose a sales tax of one – eighth percent for 25 years for the purpose of providing a source of funds for public transportation purposes.

Election Day Notice cards were mailed to all registered voters. The polling location and address are printed on each election notice card. Voters whose polls have changed will be reminded on their card. If you’ve forgotten where your poll is, voters can find their polling location online at www.kceb.org by entering a last name and birth date in the “Check Your Voter Status” box.

Upon arrival, voters may present several forms of identification including: Missouri or out of state driver’s license, government issued I.D., Missouri higher education I.D., local election authority issued I.D. or a current bank statement, utility bill, government paycheck, regular paycheck or government document containing the voter’s name and current address. Photo identification is not required to vote in Missouri.

Polling Location

Knowing where to cast your ballot can be a little confusing sometimes. Voters can find their polling location online at www.kceb.org by entering their last name and birth date in the “check voter status” box located in the top lefthand corner of the website’s homepage.

Here is a list of polling locations within the Northeast:

Ward 11

Sons of Columbus Meeting Hall (A), 2415 Independence Ave.

Saint Anthony Catholic Church, 3208 Lexington Ave.

Sons of Columbus Meeting Hall (B), 2415 Independence Ave.

Don Bosco Center, 580 Campbell St.

Ward 12

Holy Cross gym, 5108 St. John Ave.

North-East Library, 6000 Wilson Road

Children’s Memorial Church, 5001 Independence Ave.

Ward 13

Lawndale Heights, 1400 Topping Ave.