State representative Ingrid Burnett
Guest columnist

This is the last week to register to vote in the General Election on November 3. Aside from the political races that are getting lots of attention in the media and in your mailboxes, there will be two different proposals to change our state constitution. Constitutional Amendment No. 1 seeks to impose a two-term limit for Lt. Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, and Auditor. Currently, the Governor and Treasurer are the only Statewide Officers who have these. All other state senators and representatives do, as well. Constitutional Amendment No. 3 seeks to reverse the provisions of what was popularly called “Clean Missouri,” and was passed by voters with an overwhelming majority in 2018.

Amendment No. 3 seeks to restore the redistricting process that Clean Missouri replaced, place a total ban on gifts from lobbyists instead of the $5 limit imposed by Clean Missouri, and reduce campaign contribution limits for State Senate races from $2,500 to $2,400. The biggest impact that Amendment 3 would have for the Northeast community, though, is it changes how legislative districts are drawn. Currently, districts are drawn so that they include an even distribution of all individuals who were counted in the latest U.S. Census. Amendment 3 proposes that only eligible voters are counted in the distribution. That means that 17-year-old citizens, for example, would not be included in the count until the next redistricting cycle – 10 year later. Neither would residents in the process of becoming naturalized citizens. This could have a significant impact on how Northeast is represented.

No matter how you feel about these issues, your vote is your voice. If you are 18 years or older on election day, November 3, 2020, a U.S. citizen and resident of Missouri, and not on probation or parole for a felony conviction, you are most likely eligible to register and vote. There are a number of voter registration drives happening this week. Here in Northeast, you can go to the following locations and some will have Spanish language interpreters:

Saturday, 10/3/2020, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. at Gregg/Klice Community Center, 1600 John Buck O’Neil Way

Sunday, 10/4/2020, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., Superior Mini Mart, 3701 St. John Ave.

Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., City Hall Action Center, 414 E. 12th

Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Kansas City Election Board, Union Station, Lower Level, call 816-842-4820, State Building, 615 E 13th, 1st Floor

Monday – Sunday, Central Library, 14th W 10th Street, hours vary, call
816-701-3433

State Representative Ingrid Burnett
Serving the Historic Northeast 19th District