Voter purges are becoming increasingly common across the country, making it more important than ever for voters to be proactive about protecting voting rights.
This guide will walk you through the steps to ensure your vote counts in the upcoming November 2024 election.
Check Your Registration Status
Recent reports of voter purges in Alabama, Michigan, Ohio, and Texas serve as a stark reminder that no voter can afford to be complacent. Even if you’ve voted in previous elections, it’s crucial to verify your registration status well before Election Day.
To check your registration in Missouri:
– Visit the Missouri Secretary of State’s website and use their voter registration lookup tool.
For Kansas voters:
– Use the Kansas voter registration lookup tool on the Kansas Secretary of State’s website.
If you find that you’re not registered or your information is incorrect, don’t panic—but act quickly.
How to Register to Vote
If you haven’t registered before, need to update your information, or found yourself kicked off of voter rolls, no sweat you still have time to register. But time is short, and Missouri and Kansas have different deadlines.
In Missouri
- Deadline: October 9, 2024
- Register Online: Missouri offers online registration. You can register using your phone, personal computer, or tablet.
- Register By Mail: Print and fill out the National Voter Registration Form. Mail it to your local election office, postmarked by October 9.
- Register In Person: Visit your County Clerk’s office, Department of Motor Vehicles, or any state agency providing public services.
In Kansas
- Deadline: October 15, 2024
- Register Online: Kansas offers online registration if you have a driver’s license or non-driver’s ID card.
- Register By Mail: Use the National Voter Registration Form, postmarked by October 15.
- Register In Person: Register at your local election office by October 15.
For both states, you must be a U.S. citizen and at least 18 years old by Election Day to vote. Generally, felons in Missouri & Kansas can vote after finishing their sentences. Be sure to check your state’s specific requirements (Kansas and Missouri) for felony convictions and voting rights.
Make a Plan to Vote
Once you’re registered, it’s time to make your voting plan:
1. Decide how you’ll vote:
– In person on Election Day (November 5, 2024)
– Early voting (dates vary by location)
– By mail (absentee/mail-in ballot)
2. If voting in person:
– Locate your polling place
– Check voting hours
– Arrange transportation
– Bring required ID (government-issued photo ID in both MO and KS)
3. If voting by mail:
– Missouri: Request your ballot by October 23, 2024
– Kansas: Request your ballot by October 29, 2024
– Return ballots:
– Missouri: Received by November 5, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. CST
– Kansas: Postmarked by November 5, 2024, and received within three days after Election Day
4. Research candidates and ballot measures using nonpartisan voters’ guides.
5. Share your plan with friends and family, encouraging them to make their own voting plans.
Remember, your vote is your voice. By taking these steps, you’re not just participating in democracy—you’re helping to shape the future of your community, state, and nation. Stay informed, stay engaged, and most importantly, make sure your vote counts.
