Your Complete Guide to Missouri’s August 4, 2026 Primary Election

Hey Missouri voter! Election Day is coming up fast—Tuesday, August 4, 2026. Whether you’re a first-time voter or a seasoned pro, this guide breaks down everything you need to know in plain English. No confusing jargon, just the facts.

Quick Election Day Details

What	When/Where
Election Day	Tuesday, August 4, 2026
Polls Open	6:00 AM
Polls Close	7:00 PM
Key Rule	If you’re in line by 7:00 PM, you get to vote!

Pro Tip: Find your exact polling place at the Missouri Polling Place Locator.

What’s on Your Ballot?

Before you go: Check your sample ballot so there are no surprises.
Click here to find your county’s sample ballot

Your ballot will have different sections depending on where you live. Here’s what might be on it:

Statewide Issues & Races

Constitutional Amendments (Vote YES or NO)

Amendment	What It Does (In Plain English)	Learn More
Amendment 1	Renews a tax for 10 years that pays for social services, water conservation, state parks, and historic sites.	Details
Amendment 2	Requires all charter counties to elect their county assessor (the person who decides property values for taxes).	Details
Amendment 4	Makes it harder to change the state constitution: requires congressional district approval, bans foreign money, and punishes petition fraud.	Details
Amendment 5	Phases out state income tax and lets lawmakers raise or create sales taxes to make up the money.	Details

State Auditor Race

What does a State Auditor do? Think of them as Missouri’s chief financial watchdog—they check that tax money is spent properly.

Party	Candidates
Republican	Scott Fitzpatrick (current auditor) vs. Gerald Wistrand Jr.
Democratic	Quentin Wilson vs. Gregory Upchurch

Watch interviews with all candidates

🸏 Congressional Races (U.S. House)

Reminder: You’re voting for who will represent your district in Washington, D.C.

District 7 (Southwest MO)

Republican primary: Eric Burlison (incumbent) vs. John Casey vs. Grayson Hunt
Democratic: Missi Hesketh (unopposed)
Libertarian: Kevin Craig (unopposed)
Watch candidate interviews

District 4 (Western MO)

Republican primary: Mark Alford (incumbent) vs. Heather Shelton vs. Scott Vincent Vera
Democratic primary: 7 candidates running
Libertarian: Thomas Holbrook (unopposed)
Watch candidate interviews

District 8 (Southern MO)

Republican primary: Jason Smith (incumbent) vs. Gordon Heslop
Democratic primary: Chris Reichard vs. Frank Barnitz
Watch candidate interviews

District 3 (Central MO)

Republican primary: Bob Onder (incumbent) vs. John G. Fraser
Democratic primary: Bethany Mann vs. Paul Wilson vs. Tommy Holstein

State Legislature Races

Race Type	What to Know
State Senate	Several contested races, including District 20 Republican primary: Curtis Trent (incumbent) vs. Lori Rook
Missouri House	Many contested races across the state

Watch State Senate candidate interviews
Watch Missouri House candidate interviews

Local Tax Questions

Your ballot may ask you to approve new taxes or tax increases for:

School districts (bond issues or levy increases)
Fire districts
City sales taxes (including Lebanon and West Plains)

Watch KY3’s coverage of local tax issues

County Races

Nearly every county has countywide offices on the ballot.
Key races for Presiding Commissioner nominations in:

Camden County
Christian County
Polk County
(Plus many others—check your sample ballot!)

Missouri’s Voter ID Law: What to Bring

IMPORTANT: You must show an acceptable photo ID to get a regular ballot.

Acceptable IDs (must be nonexpired unless noted):

Missouri driver’s license or non-driver license
Military ID (including veteran’s ID card)
U.S. Passport
Other photo ID issued by the U.S. or Missouri government
- Can be expired only if it expired after the last general election (Nov 2024)

Special Rule: If your Missouri driver/non-driver license expired after the last general election, it still works as voter ID.

What If You Don’t Have Any of These?

You can still vote! You’ll cast a provisional ballot.

How a Provisional Ballot Works:

You fill out the ballot and sign an envelope
You get a stub with instructions—KEEP THIS!
Your ballot counts IF one of these happens:
- Option A: You return to your polling place same day with a photo ID
- Option B: Your local election office verifies your signature matches your voter registration

See examples of acceptable IDs (PDF)

Election Night Results

Where to Watch	How to Find
TV	KY3, Ozarks CW, KSPR (scroll at bottom of screen)
Online	KY3 Election Results Page

Note: KY3 does not post or air results for unopposed races.

Your Pre-Election Checklist

Follow these steps to be ready:

Check your registration – Make sure you’re registered at your current address
View your sample ballot – Find it here
Research candidates & issues – Use the interview links above
Locate your polling place – Look it up
Gather your ID – Check the list above; put it in your bag/ wallet tonight
Plan your trip – Polls open 6 AM–7 PM; go when it’s convenient
Vote! – If in line by 7 PM, you vote

Summary

Key Takeaways
Election Day: August 4, 2026 (6 AM – 7 PM)
Must bring: Acceptable photo ID (see list above)
No ID? You can still vote provisionally
Big decisions: 4 constitutional amendments, State Auditor, Congress, State Legislature, local taxes, county offices
Do homework: Check sample ballot & watch candidate interviews
Results: KY3 TV & online all night

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I vote if I forgot my ID?

Yes! You’ll vote a provisional ballot. It counts if you return with ID that same day or if your signature matches your registration.

2. What if my Missouri driver’s license is expired?

It works as voter ID only if it expired after the last general election (November 2024). Otherwise, you need a different ID or a provisional ballot.

3. Do I have to vote for every race on the ballot?

No. You can vote for just the races you care about. Leave others blank—your other votes still count.

4. Can I see who’s on my ballot before I go?

Absolutely! Click here for your county’s sample ballot. It shows every race and question you’ll see.

5. What time do I need to be in line to vote?

Be in line by 7:00 PM. As long as you’re in line at 7 PM, you have the right to vote—even if it takes hours.

Need Help or Spot an Error?

Email KY3’s digital team: digitalnews@ky3.com
(Include the article info in the subject line)

Remember: Democracy works best when you show up. See you at the polls on August 4th!

Popular Posts