The Kansas City Council has passed an ordinance to establish “Vote Your Voice KC,” a civic program aimed at increasing voter registration and participation across the city.
The initiative, sponsored by Mayor Pro Tem Ryana Parks-Shaw, will place voter registration kiosks in all 10 Kansas City community centers, and plans on adding even more community partners like the Mattie Rhodes Center.
“We’re breaking down barriers,” said Parks-Shaw. “We want to make sure that we make voter registration available to as many people in our community as possible, recognizing that we have internet gaps and people with limited access.”
According to Parks-Shaw, only about 45% of eligible voters in Kansas City are currently registered. The initiative aims to significantly increase that number before the upcoming November election and beyond.
“This statistic is not just a number,” said Parks-Shaw. “It represents our friends, neighbors, and family who are missing out on the chance to shape the future of our community.”
The Greater Kansas City National Pan-Hellenic Council, representing nine historically Black fraternities and sororities known as the “Divine Nine,” will partner with the city to staff these registration hubs. Joseph Nelson, social action chair for the Greater Kansas City National Pan-Hellenic Council, outlined the organization’s role:
“We’ll be manning a lot of the community centers and we’re going to be at a lot of events in the city to make sure folks have the opportunity to register,” said Nelson. “But we’re also going to educate folks on the new laws and opportunities that are available in the state of Missouri.”
Missouri now allows felons who have completed their probation and parole the right to vote. Senior citizens and people with disabilities in Missouri can now fill out a form to have an absentee ballot mailed to them automatically instead of requesting one for each election.
Councilman Darrell Curls emphasized the historical significance of voting rights: “People died, people bled, and people fought for this right to vote. We have to make sure that the younger generation understands what happens and that we as adults go out and vote often and early and as much as possible.”
Kiosks are being installed this week at the community centers where residents can register to vote or ensure that they are still registered to vote. The deadline to register and still vote in the November Election is Oct. 9 in Missouri and Oct. 15 in Kansas. You may also register online at vote.gov.
Voter registration kiosks will be available at the following community centers:
Kansas City North Community Center
3930 N.E. Antioch Road, KCMO
Mon. – Thu. 7 a.m. – 9 p.m., Friday 7 a.m. – 6 p.m., Sat. & Sun. 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Line Creek Community Center
5940 N.W. Waukomis Drive, KCMO
Mon. – Fri. 6 a.m. – 9 p.m., Sat. & Sun. 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Garrison Community Center
1124 E. Fifth Street, KCMO
Mon. – Thu. 11 a.m. – 9 p.m., Fri & Sat. 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Gregg/Klice Community Center
1600 John Buck O’Neil Way, KCMO
Mon. – Fri. 6 a.m. – 9 p.m., Sat. & Sun. 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Mary Williams-Neal Community Center
3801 Emanuel Cleaver II Blvd., KCMO
Mon. – Thu. 10 a.m. – 9 p.m., Fri. 9 a.m. – 7 p.m., Sat. & Sun. 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Tony Aguirre Community Center
2050 W. Pennway St., KCMO
Mon. – Thu. 6 a.m. – 9 p.m., Fri. 6 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Westport Roanoke Community Center
3601 Roanoke Road, KCMO
Mon. – Thu. 10 a.m. – 9 p.m., Fri. 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Sat. & Sun. 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Hillcrest Community Center
10401 Hillcrest Road, KCMO
Mon. – Fri. 7 a.m. – 9 p.m., Sat. & Sun. 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Marlborough Community Center
8200 The Paseo Boulevard, KCMO
Mon. – Thu 11 a.m. – 9 p.m., Fri. – Sat. 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Southeast Community Center
4201 E. 63rd Street, KCMO
Mon. – Thu. 6 a.m. – 9 p.m., Fri. 6 a.m. – 6 p.m., Sat. & Sun. 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Mattie Rhodes Center
148 N. Topping Ave. KCMO
Mon. – Fri. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
