Your 2026 primary election guide
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Your paycheck, your property taxes and your courts are all on the line in the Aug. 4 primary election. Here's what to know before you head to the voting booth.
Why it matters: Primaries draw a fraction of November's turnout, and the voters who show up decide these questions for everyone.
Missouri
Amendment 2 asks voters statewide to force Jackson County, the only Missouri county with an appointed assessor, to elect one instead. It grew out of the county's 2023 property assessment, which sent some home values up 100% and drew a state lawsuit.
- Amendment 5 would phase out the state income tax and let lawmakers raise and broaden sales taxes without another public vote.
- Amendment 1 renews the sales tax that keeps state parks free.
- Amendment 4 would make citizen-led constitutional amendments harder to pass while leaving the Legislature's own proposals at a simple majority.
Zoom in: KCMO voters will also see $1.7 billion in bond questions on water, sewers, affordable housing and city building repairs, plus a sales tax renewal funding East Side economic development.
Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, KC's Democratic congressman since 2005, runs in a redrawn 5th District that splits the city along Troost Avenue. Six Republicans, including state Sen. Rick Brattin, compete to face him.
- Rep. Sam Graves' retirement opens the 6th District for the first time since 2000.
- Rep. Mark Alford defends the redrawn 4th District, which now includes KC west of Troost.
- State auditor Scott Fitzpatrick faces a primary challenge in the only statewide office race.
Not on this ballot: Missouri's abortion question, which would effectively reinstate the state's abortion ban, waits for the Nov. 3 general election.
Kansas
Term limits end Gov. Laura Kelly's run, drawing seven Republicans, led by Secretary of State Scott Schwab, Senate president Ty Masterson and state insurance commissioner Vicki Schmidt, and three Democrats: state Sens. Cindy Holscher and Ethan Corson and Overland Park Mayor Curt Skoog.
- Every voter, unaffiliated included, can weigh in on a constitutional amendment to elect Kansas Supreme Court justices rather than appoint them.
- Eleven Democrats are running for the chance to take on Republican Sen. Roger Marshall, who was first elected in 2020.
Dates to remember
Missouri's registration deadline passed July 8, but Kansans have until July 14 to register.
- No-excuse absentee voting begins July 21 in Missouri, and excuse-required in-person absentee voting is already underway. Johnson County advance voting opens July 18.
- Missouri absentee ballot applications must be received by July 22, and ballots are due by the close of polls Aug. 4. Military and overseas ballots have until noon Aug. 7 in Missouri and by the close of polls Aug. 4 in Kansas.
- Postmarks no longer count in Kansas, so mail ballots must arrive by 7pm on Election Day.
What's next: Find your ballot and polling place at Missouri's voter portal or Kansas VoterView. Polls run from 6am to 7pm in Missouri and from 7am to 7pm in Kansas.