Update (Sept. 1, 2022): Civic engagement groups filed lawsuits in late August challenging portions of the law, including the photo ID requirement. Unless a court rules against the photo ID provision, it will be in place for the November election. Under a new law set to go into effect at the end of this month, […]
Civic Engagement
Posted inCivic Engagement, Elections
Kansas Voter Help Desk: Your questions answered
The Beacon is here to answer your questions about voting in the November general election. We will respond directly to readers’ questions as they come in, and we will also publish the answers here and in our newsletter. Submit your questions about voting in Kansas using this form, by email to miranda@thebeacon.media, or through The Beacon’s […]
Posted inCivic Engagement, Elections
Voting in the Kansas primary? Here’s what to expect when casting your ballot
The Kansas primary election is on Aug. 2, but voters don’t have to wait that long to vote. Whether you vote on election day, by mail, or early in person, The Beacon has created a guide to help you prepare for the Kansas primary. How do I check my voter registration information? When do I […]
Posted inCivic Engagement, Elections, State Government
How to become a poll worker for the upcoming Missouri elections
With the August primary election weeks away and November fast approaching, election authorities around the Kansas City metro are recruiting poll workers who can help run precincts. Workers are needed for a variety of paid positions on election day. One day of training ahead of the election is required. Poll workers get paid different rates […]
Posted inCivic Engagement, Elections
How to register to vote for the Aug. 2 election in Kansas
The primary election in Kansas is on Aug. 2, giving voters the opportunity to decide who will appear on the November ballot for several high-profile races including governor, state attorney general and the U.S. Congress. Also on the ballot is a constitutional amendment, which would alter the state constitution to say that there is no right […]
Posted inCivic Engagement, Elections, Local Government, State Government
How to register to vote for the Missouri primary
The deadline to register to vote in the Aug. 2 Missouri primary election is Wednesday, July 6. August’s election will determine the party nominees for the open U.S. Senate seat being vacated by retiring Republican Sen. Roy Blunt. The winners of the primary will be on the Nov. 8 general election ballots. For the first […]
Posted inCivic Engagement
25 Ways to celebrate Juneteenth in Kansas City, and to keep supporting Black communities
Editor’s note: Click here for a 2023 guide to celebrating Juneteenth in Kansas City. Juneteenth is a holiday commemorating the official ending of slavery in the United States. Although enslaved people were emancipated throughout the Confederacy by Abraham Lincoln on Jan. 1, 1863, it wasn’t until June 19, 1865, that federal troops arrived at Galveston, […]
Posted inCivic Engagement, Local Government
KC has few trans women of color in leadership. This nonprofit is changing that.
In the eight years that Merrique Jenson has worked in trans activism in Kansas City, she’s been invited to join nonprofit boards and government projects to represent trans women of color in KC. Not all of those experiences turned out well, Jenson said. She was criticized for talking about race, and she felt that her […]
Posted inCivic Engagement, Local Government
This fall election could reshape Jackson County spending
Editor’s note: We updated this story on June 14 to clarify that Jackson County legislators only have zoning authority in unincorporated areas. The midterm elections are coming up in November 2022, and voters will soon be swarmed with campaign ads, voter registration drives and a hyperfocus on high-profile state and national races. More under the […]
Posted inCivic Engagement
Goodwill for Ukrainian refugees is abundant in KC, but what about other refugees?
“Where were these people when we needed help for others?” Refugee advocates urge donors to also show compassion for non-European refugees.