What's Up With the League

March to the Polls

By Melanie Busse, President

The National Congress of Black Women of Kansas City is hosting an "Early Voting Rally & March to the Polls" on Saturday, October 31, 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. The event will take place outside at the Spirit of Freedom Park, 37​08 Emanuel Cleaver II Blvd., Kansas City, MO 641​30, near the Bruce R. Watkins Cultural Center. No registration is needed. Following the rally, those who are able will march to the Kansas City Election Board.

What Comes Next?

By Melanie Busse, President

This time next month we will have made it through the midterm election and may know the results of major ballot measures.

I am so proud of all that the League has done to get people registered and educated and prepared to get out to vote. There is a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes to get our work done and we need to pat ourselves on the back for a job well done.

I am constantly reminded when I speak to different groups that the League's nonpartisan reputation opened doors and opportunities all over town. We are a trusted resource, and this is a big deal!

We may not know what November will bring, but we do know this. Whatever the results, the LWV will still be here and we will continue our important work to empower voters and defend democracy as we start planning for the next election cycle. Thank you all for your support of this wonderful organization!

Melanie

Save the Date

By Melanie Busse, President

Please join us on Saturday, December 12 (time and place to be announced) to recognize our volunteers and to review our 2026 Election Report! This will be an in-person meeting only.

Another Successful Forum Season

By Elizabeth Darr, Forums Committee

The forums committee has wrangled 59 candidates to participate in six forums for the November election. They can be seen on our YouTube channel. Questions for this week's forums are still being accepted. Please consult the calendar on the LWVKC website for more information.

What If We Held an Election and Nobody Came?

By Elizabeth Darr, Forums Committee

The Forums committee has been holding candidate events for decades. On Thursday, October 8 we experienced a first.

For our Lee's Summit Forum there were four races, each with a Republican and a Democrat. Most of the Republicans declined. One did not respond. Just before the forum was to start, the Democrats sent their regrets. One candidate stated "[My opponent's] decision deprives our constituents of the opportunity to hear both candidates answer the same questions and make a direct comparison before casting their ballots. People have real concerns about what's happening in Missouri. They deserve to hear from the people asking to represent them, not just through ads and mailers, but in a setting where we have to answer their questions. I was looking forward to a robust discussion tonight, but when only one side participates that is not a discussion. That is what makes the League's work so valuable. You create space for a conversation that campaigns don't get to script or control. I believe anyone asking for the responsibility of public office should be willing to take part."

VOTE411 Updates

By Pat Goodwin, Vote411 Admin Team

VOTE411 is now active!

VOTE411, the League of Women Voters' online voter guide, is published for the November 3 election. If you want to avoid surprises when you vote, check out VOTE411. Here's what you'll find.

• Candidates' qualifications and priorities as described by the candidates themselves - plus, you can compare candidates side-by-side
• Links to candidate forums for Missouri General Assembly races
• Background information on the five statewide ballot measures that clarifies what passage or defeat would mean to Missourians
• Links to judges' evaluations and sample opinions
• Options for printing your ballot or saving it to your phone to use when you vote

Depending on where you live, you may see up to 25 races and ballot measures on your ballot. So this is a good election to use this valuable resource.

VOTE411 yard signs are still available

There's still time to get a VOTE411 yard sign to let your neighbors know how to get valuable election information. Fill out this short Google form to request signs for you and your friends and family. These signs are sturdy and designed to be used in future elections.

Ask candidates to participate in VOTE411

If you notice a candidate has not responded to VOTE411, give them a call or text them asking them to participate. A team of volunteers is calling candidates in contested races, but hearing from constituents carries a lot more weight. Let us know if you need contact information.

The VOTE411 Admin Team is always looking for good ideas on how to make sure voters know about our online voter guide. Email vote411@lwvkc.org with your suggestions.

Info You May Need!

LWVMO Power Hour - November Ballot

By Melanie Busse, President

The next LWVMO Voter Power Hour will be October 13, 2026 at 6:30 p.m. The topic this month is "November Ballot Measures: Be Informed - Don't be Tricked." Please go to the LWVKC website to register for the event, which will be shown on Zoom. For more details see https://my.lwv.org/missouri/event/voter-power-hour-webinar-tuesday-october-13-2026-630-pm-november-ballot-measures-be-informed

Adopt-A-Poll

By Sandy Eeds

If you work at the polls for the KC Election Board on November 3, you can choose to donate the day's salary to LWVKC. If five or more League members enroll in Adopt-A-Poll, the Election Board will issue a check directly to the League in the amount of those enrolled who worked at the polls. If we have fewer than five, members who are pollworkers can elect to donate all or a portion of their pay directly to LWVKC.

If you wish to participate, log in to LWVKC.org and navigate to the 11/3/26 volunteer opportunity to sign up for Adopt-A-Poll. The link to the Volunteering Opportunities page is shown below.

https://www.lwvkc.org/content.aspx?page_id=2664&club_id=477430.

Yellow Highlights Only on Voter Registration Forms!

By Becky Yockey, New Citizens Voter Registration

We've been informed by the KC Election Board that our 'technicolor' highlighting on the voter-registration ('postcard') forms does not scan well at the KCEB office. If you want more information, you can contact the KCEB office, 816-842-4820.

So, if you have any forms with colorful highlights, you might want to recycle them... we have quite a few of the 'acceptable' forms in storage and can access those easily. We also have a stack of unmarked forms that will likely show up at a work party.

Thanks for all your wonderful efforts helping to register voters this past season! We are so pleased to have so many willing volunteers helping in the effort to Defend Democracy. Onward to November!

Members In Action

Welcome to New Members Who Joined July-September!

By Laura Marcus Mountjoy, Vice President

Please welcome our many new members who joined July through September of this year! Come to our meetings or volunteer for an event to meet other League members.

Upcoming Events

Voting Events

LWVMO Voter Power Hour Webinar: November Ballot Measures

When: October 13, 2026, 6:30 p.m.
Registration is required: Link to register

Early voting (in-person, NO EXCUSE REQUIRED) begins for November 3 election

When: October 20, 2026
Where: Check with your Local Election Authority for times and locations

Deadline to request a mail-in ballot for November 3 election

When: October 21, 2026
Link for more information

Election Day!

When: November 3, 2026, 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Link for Election Day information

League Events

2026 Missouri Ballot Measures Presentation: Red Bridge Library (south KC)

When: October 13, 2026, 6:00 p.m.
Where: Mid-Continent Public Library - Red Bridge Branch, 4​53 Red Bridge Road, Kansas City, MO 64​131
Registration is required: Link to register

Candidate Forum: MO Senate and House Districts (Kansas City) 19, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 37

When: October 13, 2026, 6:30 p.m.
Registration is required: Link to register

Candidate Forum: MO Senate and House Districts (South/East) 32, 33, 36, 55, 56, 62

When: October 14, 2026, 6:30 p.m.
Registration is required: Link to register

Voter Registration Event

When: October 15, 2026, 12:30 to 2:15 p.m.
Where: Kingswood Health Center
Sign up is required: Link to Volunteer Page

Candidate Forum: MO Senate and House Districts (Independence)

When: October 15, 2026, 6:30 p.m.
Registration is required: Link to register

LWVKC Book Club

When: October 15, 2026, 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Where: Link to event: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84083430103

Get Out The Vote - City Market Voter Outreach

When: October 17, 2026, 7:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. (two-hour shifts available)
Where: City Market, 20 East 5th Street, Kansas City, MO 64​106
Sign up to volunteer

2026 Missouri Ballot Measures Presentation: Withers Library (Northland)

When: October 20, 2026, 6 p.m.
Where: Mid-Continent Public Library - Withers Branch, 16​65 South Withers Road, Liberty, MO 64​068
Registration is required: Link to register

2026 Missouri Ballot Measures Presentation: Online

When: October 21, 2026, 6 p.m.
Registration is required: Link to register

Get Out The Vote - City Market Voter Outreach

When: October 24, 2026, 9:30 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. (two-hour shifts available)
Where: City Market, 20 East 5th Street, Kansas City, MO 64​106
Sign up to volunteer

Voter Registration Event - Hickman Mills Community Day

When: October 24, 2026, 9:30 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. (2 shifts available)
Where: Ruskin High School, 70​00 1​11th Street, Kansas City, MO 64​134
Sign up to volunteer

Voter Registration Event - Penn Valley CC Fall Resource

When: October 29, 2026, 10:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.
Where: Penn Valley CC, 32​01 Southwest Trafficway, Kansas City, MO 64​111
Sign up to volunteer

Voter Registration Event - Girls On the Run 5K

When: October 31, 2026, 7 to 10:30 a.m.
Where: Hy-Vee Arena, 18​00 Genessee, Kansas City, MO 64​102
Sign up to volunteer

Get Out The Vote - City Market Voter Outreach

When: October 31, 2026, 7:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. (two-hour shifts available)
Where: City Market, 20 East 5th Street, Kansas City, MO 64​106
Sign up to volunteer

Early Vote Rally - March to the Polls

When: October 31, 2026, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Where: Spirit of Freedom Park, 37​08 Emanuel Cleaver II Boulevard, Kansas City, MO 64​130

Committee Meetings

Voter Guide / Vote411 Committee Meeting

When: October 13, 2026, 5 to 6 p.m.
Link to event: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84326330757

Forums Committee Meeting

When: October 19, 2026, 6:30 p.m.
Link to event: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89523016094

Get Out The Vote (GOTV) Meeting

When: October 20, 2026, 4 to 5 p.m.
Link to event: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84024802761

Social Media Committee Meeting

When: October 20, 2026, 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Link to event: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84326330757

Observer Corps Committee Meeting (quarterly)

When: October 27, 2026, 3:00 p.m.
Link to event: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89523016094

Voter Guide / Vote411 Committee Meeting

When: October 27, 2026, 5 to 6 p.m.
Link to event: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84326330757

Technology Committee Meeting

When: October 29, 2026, noon
Link to event: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88953712786

Committee Chair Monthly Meeting

When: November 2, 2026, 5 to 6 p.m.
Link to event: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85969931491

Social Media Committee Meeting

When: November 3, 2026, 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Link to event: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87012385479