A ballot mix-up has already put Kansas City’s early voting under the microscope, after election officials admitted that 251 in-person absentee voters were given ballots that were missing two at-large Jackson County Legislature races.
The Kansas City Election Board did not specify the cause; Democratic Director Lauri Ealom said it was 'too technical to explain'. The problem surfaced after early voting began last Friday and was limited to a specific batch of in-person absentee ballots. Board leaders say they have isolated the issue and insist every affected voter will still be able to cast a full ballot.
According to the Kansas City Star, the 251 voters who received incomplete ballots can return to the board’s main office to vote on a supplemental ballot that contains only the two missing county legislature races. For anyone who cannot make the trip, the board told the paper it will send nonpartisan teams to deliver supplemental ballots or mail one to voters who are out of town. Officials said the board is contacting affected voters and offering supplemental ballots so all votes can be completed and counted correctly.
What the board says
“We are ensuring every single voter has the opportunity to cast a complete and accurate ballot,” KCEB Democratic Director Lauri Ealom told the Kansas City Star. She said staff caught the problem quickly and moved to make sure the incomplete ballots were not fully processed before voters had a chance to fix them. The board said only in-person absentee voting that started last Friday was affected. The Missouri Constitution states that "all political power is vested in and derived from the people," according to the Missouri Secretary of State, underscoring why election officials emphasize ensuring every voter can cast a complete ballot.
How to fix your ballot
Voters who cast an in-person absentee ballot at Kansas City’s voting center can go to the Kansas City Election Board at 4407 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. to complete a supplemental ballot. The board’s website lists office hours.
If you cannot get to the office, the board said it will send a team to you with a supplemental ballot, or mail one if you are out of town, so your choices in the two missing races can still be recorded.
With the Aug. 4 primary less than two weeks away, election officials said they had to move fast to avoid confusion and keep the results on track for certification. Directors emphasized they were taking steps to ensure votes would be completed and counted correctly. According to the Missouri Secretary of State's Current Election Law Book (Chapter 115), state statutes define which authority conducts elections and related procedures, providing the legal framework that governs how absentee and supplemental ballots must be handled.
With the Aug. 4 primary less than two weeks away, election officials said they had to move fast to avoid confusion and keep the results on track for certification. Directors emphasized they were taking steps to ensure votes would be completed and counted correctly.
