KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Election offices in Missouri are now open for no-excuse absentee voting. Jackson County voters can cast their ballots two weeks before special election day.
Missouri has a 6-week absentee voting window. During the first four weeks, voters needed an excuse to vote absentee. For the next two weeks, they don’t.
There is a lot of money on the line in the upcoming special election. For most registered voters in Jackson County, they’ll be asked just one question and their choices will be yes or no.
Jackson County residents will be voting on a 3/8th-cent sales tax that will go to both the Chiefs and the Royals over the next 40 years. Jackson County shoppers are already paying a 3/8ths cent sales tax, but that tax expires in 2031.
If Jackson County residents say yes April 2, the Royals will use the sales tax money to help build their new ballpark in the Crossroads. The Chiefs will use that money to renovate GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
No-excuse absentee voting is open and ballots can be cast in three locations. The locations are the Kansas City Election Board, the Whole Person, and the United Believers Community Church.
Polls will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
In Kansas City, early voting locations include:
- The Election Board Office is located inside the shops on Blue Parkway, 4407 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, KCMO 64130
Kansas City residents can also vote at the following satellite locations:
- United Believers Community Church at 5600 E 112th Ter. KCMO 64134
- The Whole Person at 3710 Main St. KCMO 6411
All satellite voting locations use ballot marking devices that produce paper ballots. On Election Day, pre-printed paper ballots are only available at your home ward and precinct.
You must have an acceptable form of ID to vote early.
In-Person No Excuse Absentee Voting for Jackson County residents outside of Kansas City is at the JCEB Absentee Office at 110 N. Liberty Independence, Missouri.
Kansas City election board director Shawn Kieffer said there will be a boost in voter turnout due to the significance of the topic.
“We expect about double. Typically, we expect between 8 and 13 percent to come out to vote on that day,” Kieffer said.
“However, with all the talk, the Chiefs winning a world championship, everybody is talking about it. We expect the turnout to be double.”
“We didn’t anticipate busloads, not for this election, but maybe this is an indication of what’s to happen this year,” said Kansas City Election Board Director Laurie Ealom. “And that’d be great if people come by the busloads and vote because our percentages have been down for quite some time now.”
“I wish more people would come out to vote instead of low percentages, and that’s disheartening because either way it goes, we have to make the same preparation. If only two people come out or if 240,000 come out, it doesn’t matter for us,” Ealom said.
Ealom said they expect about 20-21% of Kansas City’s registered voters to vote in the April 2 election.
“I just think it’s important for the development of Kansas City and having the new stadium and everything,” said Kansas City Early Voter Maurcie Dydell. “I’m a diehard Chiefs fan and royals too. I just think it’s important for the community and the development of Kansas City. “
“I’m more of a sports fan and I go back as a kid to the Kansas City Kings, Kansas City Comets, Royals Chiefs. So that’s what’s important to me. You know, having the sports venues here in Kansas City and having them stay for a long time,” Dydell said.
Some early voters FOX4 talked to said they wanted their voices heard regarding Question #1.
“The question on the ballot is very important. I thought that for me personally, making a choice one way or the other is as important as well,” said Kansas City Voter Michael Montgomery.
From this election, we will have an answer to the future of the Royals and Chiefs stadium projects.
