Election 101: What to know before you vote in the November election

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KY3) - Voters will head to the polls on November 3 for the primary election in Missouri.

Sample Ballots:

Knowing what’s on your ballot is best before you head to the polls. CLICK HERE to find your county’s ballots.

Elections Stories:

KY3 has reported on several races and issues on the ballots. Find all our election stories by clicking here.

Here are a few things on the ballot:

Missouri Statewide Amendments:

• Amendment 3 - Repeals 2024’s voter-approved amendment that provides reproductive rights and replaces it with one that allows abortion through 12 weeks in cases of rape and incest, and for emergencies and fetal anomalies. It also prohibits gender transition procedures for minors. Learn more by clicking here.
• Amendment 6 - Prohibits elected officials from directly amending or changing laws that were enacted through the initiative process and requires any modifications to such laws to receive a vote of 80% in the State House and State Senate. Learn more by clicking here.
• Amendment 7 - Establishes the “Show-Me Prosperity Fund,” a permanent public endowment fund to support the state government with the goal of eliminating state-imposed taxes. Learn more by clicking here.
• Amendment 8 - Amends the state Constitution so counties must elect a sheriff every four years, which is currently required, and adds provisions outlining sheriffs’ duties. It also provides that an elected sheriff may be removed from office only through a writ of quo warranto from the Attorney General. Learn more by clicking here.
• Proposition A - Repeals Missouri’s existing congressional plan and replaces it with new congressional boundaries. Learn more about the proposition by clicking here.

To read official ballot language or fair ballot language for any of the above amendments, click here.

Missouri’s Key Races:

Missouri State Auditor:

• Republican Incumbent Scott Fitzpatrick-Click here to learn more
• Democrat Quentin Wilson-Click here to learn more
• Libertarian Dustin Coffell-Click here to learn more

Missouri State Senate District 20:

• Republican Lori Rook
• Democrat Sean Falconer

Missouri State Senate District 30:

• Republican Melanie Stinnett
• Democrat Betsy Fogle
• Libertarian Cecile Ince

Missouri U.S. House of Representatives:

U.S. Rep. for District 4

• Republican Incumbent Mark Alford
• Democrat Jordan Herrera
• Libertarian Thomas Holbrook

U.S. Rep. for District 7

• Republican Incumbent Eric Burlison
• Democrat Missi Hesketh
• Libertarian Kevin Craig

U.S. Rep. for District 8:

• Jason T. Smith, a Republican
• Democrat Chris Reichard
• Libertarian Rebecca Sharpe Lombard

Key County & Local Issues:

Several counties will elect new countywide offices and decide countywide taxes.

• The city of Springfield is asking voters to approve four changes to its city charter. CLICK HERE to learn more about them.
• Polk County voters will decide a countywide law enforcement sales tax. CLICK HERE to learn more about it.
• Webster County voters will decide a countywide tax for roads and bridges. CLICK HERE to learn more about it.

Arkansas Statewide Issues:

• Issue 1 Voter Fraud Question: The Citizens Only Voting Amendment restricts voting to only U.S. Citizens.
• Issue 2 Right to Bear Arms: The issue modifies the Arkansas Constitution to include the Right to Bear Arms.
• Issue 3 Economic Growth: Voters will decide to allow cities and counties to form economic development districts.
• Issue 4 Water Bonds: If approved, the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission may issue bonds to pay for water-related infrastructure.

Arkansas Key Races:

Arkansas U.S. Senate:

• Republican Incumbent Tom Cotton
• Democrat Hallie Shoffner
• Libertarian Jeff Lombard
• CLICK HERE to watch interviews with the candidates on issues

Arkansas Governor:

• Republican Incumbent Sarah Huckabee Sanders
• Democrat Fred Love
• Libertarian Colt Shelby

U.S. Rep. for District 1:

• Republican Incumbent Rick Crawford
• Democrat Terri Yarbrough
• Libertarian Steve Parsons

U.S. Rep. for District 3:

• Republican Incumbent Steve Womack
• Democrat Robb Ryerse
• Libertarian Bobby Wilson

U.S. Rep. for District 4:

• Republican Incumbent Bruce Westerman
• Democrat James Russell

Election Day Voting:

Polls open in Missouri at 6 a.m. They close at 7 p.m. If you are in line at 7 p.m., you will get to vote.

• Missouri Polling Place Locator: https://s1.sos.mo.gov/elections/voterlookup/

Arkansas polls open at 7:30 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m. If you are in line at 7:30 p.m., you will get to vote.

Arkansas’ Voter ID Law:

• An election official will ask you to state your name, address, and date of birth.
• The election official will request that you provide an approved form of I.D.
• If you don’t present the necessary identification, the election official will instruct you on voting a Provisional Ballot.
• In a primary election, you must state the party primary in which you wish to vote. If you don’t wish to cast a party ballot, you may choose to vote in the nonpartisan races only(which may include judicial and prosecuting attorney races, and other local issues such as tax increases).
• In a primary election, you’re allowed to vote only one party’s ballot or the nonpartisan ballot. The election official records which party’s ballot you choose.
• Next, you will sign the Precinct Voter Registration List, and the election official will add your name to the list of voters.
• The election official will give you a ballot or direct you to a voting machine. (See below for the voting system in your county.)
• You will go alone to a voting booth and mark your ballot. You are allowed 5 minutes to vote.
• If you vote a paper ballot, you will deposit it into the ballot box or an electronic scanner.

Missouri’s Voter ID Law:

Show one of the forms of acceptable identification and sign the poll book to obtain your ballot:

• A nonexpired Missouri driver or non-driver license
• A nonexpired military ID, including a veteran’s ID card
• A nonexpired United States passport
• Another photo ID issued by the United States or the state of Missouri that is either not expired or expired after the most recent general election date
• *If the driver or non-driver license has expired after the most recent general election, it is an acceptable form of voter ID.

If you do not possess any of these forms of identification but are a registered voter, you may cast a provisional ballot.

Your provisional ballot will count if: (1) you return to your polling place on Election Day with a photo ID, or (2) the signature on your provisional ballot envelope is determined by your local election authority to match the signature on your voter registration record.

If you cast a provisional ballot, you will receive a stub from your provisional ballot envelope with instructions on how to verify that your provisional ballot is counted.

CLICK HERE for examples of acceptable forms of identification.

Results:

KY3 will have results throughout the night. You can find them on KY3, the Ozarks CW, and KSPR by scrolling to the bottom of the screen. You can also find them online by CLICKING HERE.

(DISCLAIMER: KY3 does not post or air the results of unopposed races.)

To report a correction or typo, please email digitalnews@ky3.com. Please include the article info in the subject line of the email.