The rules that run your rental business aren't written in Washington.
They're written in Jefferson City and Topeka. At your county courthouse. At city hall.
Property tax assessments. Sales taxes. Rental rules. Who gets to tell you what you can do with your own property.
On Tuesday, Nov. 3, voters in Missouri and Kansas decide a lot of it.
This guide puts everything in one place. How to vote in both states. What every ballot question touching property owners actually does. And how to sort it all out before you walk in.
MAREI does not endorse candidates. This is a voter guide, not a voting guide.
Why Staying Informed Matters
You can't protect what you don't see coming.
Look at Jackson County. In 2023, assessed values jumped about 30% on average, and some owners saw far more. That fight turned into a state audit, a lawsuit from the attorney general, a recall election and two ballot questions. Owners may now get about $250 million back under a settlement.
The people who followed it early had time to appeal, plan and speak up. The people who didn't found out when the tax bill showed up.
That's why MAREI tracks the laws, ordinances and ballot questions that hit local investors and landlords, and sends them straight to your inbox. Our newsletter and Weekly Briefing do the digging so you don't have to.
Vote Early. Really.
Life gets busy. A tenant calls. A closing moves. A rehab runs long. Suddenly it's 7:05 p.m. on Election Day.
Do your homework this week, then vote early. Both states let you vote in person before Election Day, no excuse needed. It takes "I forgot" and "I got slammed" right off the table.
Missouri and Kansas at a Glance
| Missouri | Kansas | |
|---|---|---|
| Election Day | Tue., Nov. 3 | Tue., Nov. 3 |
| Polls open | 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. | 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (some counties open earlier or close later) |
| Register to vote for Nov. 3 | Closed Oct. 7 | Closed Oct. 13 |
| Early voting in person, no excuse | Oct. 20 through Mon., Nov. 2 (until 5 p.m.) | Started Oct. 14 in some counties; every county by Oct. 27; ends at noon Mon., Nov. 2 |
| Ask for a mail ballot | Closed Oct. 21 | By Tue., Oct. 27 |
| Mail ballot due | In the election office by 7 p.m. Nov. 3 | In the election office, a county drop box or any polling place in your county by 7 p.m. Nov. 3 |
| Photo ID | Required | Required |
| Check registration, polling place and sample ballot | Missouri Voter Outreach Portal | Kansas VoterView |
Are You Registered?
Check now. It takes two minutes, and it's the only part of this guide you have to look up yourself.
- Missouri: Missouri Voter Outreach Portal
- Kansas: Kansas VoterView
Moved since the last election? Changed your name? Check anyway.
Registration for Nov. 3 is closed in both states. If you're not registered, sign up now so you're set for the next one: Missouri online registration or Kansas online registration (you'll need your Kansas driver's license or ID).
How Early Voting Works
Missouri. Go to your local election office or one of its early voting sites, Oct. 20 through 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 2. No excuse needed. Bring a photo ID. Hours and sites vary by county, so check before you go.
Kansas. Kansas calls it "advance voting." Some counties started Oct. 14. Every county has to offer it by Tuesday, Oct. 27. It ends at noon on Monday, Nov. 2, not at the end of the day. Bring a photo ID.
In both states, early voting sites are often different from your Election Day polling place. Your county may have several.
Voting by Mail
Missouri. The deadline to ask for a mail ballot was Oct. 21. If you already have one, it has to be in the election office by 7 p.m. on Nov. 3. Mail it or drop it off at the election office. You can't turn it in at your polling place.
Kansas. Apply by Tuesday, Oct. 27. New in 2026: your ballot must be received by the time polls close on Election Day to count. This late, skip the mailbox. Drop it in a county drop box or hand it in at any polling place in your county.
On Election Day
- Go to your assigned polling place. It's listed on the Missouri or Kansas portal above.
- Bring a photo ID. Without one, you'll vote a provisional ballot.
- In line at 7 p.m.? Stay in line. You still get to vote.
See Your Sample Ballot Before You Go
Don't meet your ballot for the first time in the booth. Pull up your exact ballot by address on the Missouri Voter Outreach Portal or Kansas VoterView.
Print it. Mark it up. Take it with you.
Still Confused by Your Ballot? Four Ways to Sort It Out
1. Read the "fair ballot language." Every Missouri statewide question comes with a plain-English summary of what a yes vote does and what a no vote does. We've put the summaries for the questions that touch property owners right below. It's posted at your polling place too.
2. Call your county election office. They won't tell you how to vote. They will tell you what's on your ballot, where to vote and how a question works. The number is on your county election website and on the state portals above.
3. Hear the candidates in their own words. KCRAR's Elections Center has video interviews with metro candidates. (KCRAR also lists the candidates it supports. MAREI does not endorse.)
4. Ask an AI assistant for a neutral rundown. Yes, this works. Screenshot your sample ballot, crop out your name and address, and upload it to Claude, ChatGPT or another AI tool. Then paste in this prompt:
One rule: AI can be wrong or out of date, especially on local races. Click the links it gives you, and double-check anything that matters.
Whatever you use, read what both sides say. Then decide.
What's on the Ballot for KC Property Owners
Your ballot depends on where you live. Here's what voters across the metro will see, starting with the questions that touch taxes and property.
Missouri: Statewide Questions (Every Missouri Voter)
Amendment 7: "Show-Me Prosperity Fund"
Sets up a permanent state endowment fund. The goal is for its investment earnings to replace state taxes over time.
- Yes: Creates the fund. Lawmakers couldn't spend from it until the state treasurer says earnings are big enough to eliminate state taxes. Then those taxes would go away. Lawmakers keep the power to raise taxes if the fund ever fails.
- No: No fund. Nothing changes.
- Worth knowing: The amendment doesn't put any money in the fund. Lawmakers would have to decide how to pay for it. It has no immediate effect on your taxes.
Amendment 6: Citizen Initiative Petitions
Changes how hard it is for lawmakers to change laws voters pass by petition.
- Yes: Makes the initiative petition process a "fundamental right." Lawmakers would need 80% of both the House and Senate to change or repeal a law voters passed by petition. Keeps today's signature rules and simple statewide majority to pass.
- No: Keeps the current process.
- Why landlords should care: Tax, housing and rental rules can land on the ballot by petition. This decides how easy those laws are to change once they pass.
Also on every Missouri ballot: Amendment 3 (abortion and gender transition procedures for minors), Amendment 8 (county sheriffs) and Proposition A (congressional map). They don't touch property, so we don't cover them here. Your sample ballot shows the official wording for each.
Jackson County
Question 1: COMBAT Anti-Crime Sales Tax
Renews the county's existing quarter-cent sales tax. It raises about $25 million to $30 million a year for courts, the prosecutor's office, law enforcement and grants to nonprofits.
- Yes: Keeps the tax for 10 more years, to March 2037.
- No: The tax ends in March 2027.
- Not a new tax. A yes vote keeps today's rate.
Also on the ballot: County Executive (an open seat, with property assessments a top issue) and several County Legislature seats.
Heads up: Property tax bills go out in mid-November.
Clay County
County Question: Commissioners' Benefits and Officials' Pay
- Yes: County commissioners get the same benefits as other county employees. The prosecuting attorney's pay is set at a circuit judge's level and the sheriff's at an associate circuit judge's level. It also requires a general election even when only one candidate files. Changes start in 2027.
- No: Nothing changes.
Also on the ballot: Presiding Commissioner.
Cass County
- Drexel: Adds a half-cent city sales tax for downtown improvements and economic development.
- Lee's Summit (Cass County side): Asks whether the city should provide citywide residential trash collection. If you own rentals there, think about how that would change who arranges and pays for trash service.
- County: No county tax or bond questions.
Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas
Countywide: New Quarter-Cent Sales Tax for Health Care
Pays for health care services, behavioral health, addiction treatment, the county health department and help for people experiencing homelessness, possibly including a year-round shelter. It would raise about $12 million a year, start April 1, 2027, and last 10 years.
- Yes: The new sales tax takes effect.
- No: No new tax.
KCK Only: New 3/8-Cent Sales Tax for Parks and Infrastructure
Pays for parks, bridges, sidewalks and roads for 10 years. It would max out the city's special-purpose sales tax rate.
- Yes: The new sales tax takes effect.
- No: No new tax.
Worth knowing: Both are sales taxes, not property taxes. Supporters point out that Wyandotte County leans heavily on property taxes today.
Kansas: Statewide
Also on every Kansas ballot: a constitutional amendment saying only U.S. citizens can vote, which is already state law. It doesn't touch property, so we don't cover it here.
Also on the ballot: Governor (an open seat), the other statewide offices, every Kansas House seat, and retention votes for two Kansas Supreme Court justices.
Johnson County
The County Commission chair and Commission Districts 1, 4 and 5 are on the ballot. No countywide tax questions.
Already Decided This Year
- Jackson County assessor: Missouri voters passed Amendment 2 in August. Jackson County will elect its assessor, starting in 2028.
- Kansas City, Missouri: Voters approved $100 million in bonds for the city's Housing Trust Fund in August.
- Cass County property tax freeze: In April, about 80% of voters approved a freeze for single-family homestead owners. Commercial, industrial and agricultural property don't qualify. A lawsuit from local taxing districts is still pending, so it may not take effect.
Your 5-Minute Voting Plan
- Check your registration.
- Pull up your sample ballot.
- Read up on the races and questions you don't know.
- Pick your day: early or Nov. 3.
- Grab your photo ID and go.
FAQ
When is Election Day in Kansas and Missouri?
Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. Missouri polls are open 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Kansas polls are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Can I still register to vote for Nov. 3?
No. Missouri's deadline was Oct. 7 and Kansas's was Oct. 13. You can register now for the next election.
Can I vote early without an excuse?
Yes, in person, in both states. Missouri runs through 5 p.m. Nov. 2. Kansas ends at noon Nov. 2.
Do I need a photo ID?
Yes, in both states. Without one, you'll vote a provisional ballot.
Where do I find my polling place and sample ballot?
Missouri: the Missouri Voter Outreach Portal. Kansas: Kansas VoterView.
Does MAREI endorse candidates?
No. We track the laws and ballot questions that affect property owners and share the facts. Your vote is yours.
Dates and rules come from the Missouri and Kansas Secretaries of State and county election offices as of Oct. 24, 2026. Confirm hours and locations with your local election office.
Keeping Members Informed
MAREI tracks the laws, ordinances and ballot questions that affect Kansas City real estate investors and landlords, on both sides of the state line. We don’t endorse candidates. We dig up the facts and put them in your inbox.
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