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Don’t Vote Blind: Your Tuesday Primary Survival Guide
Your Complete Guide to Missouri’s August 4 Primary Election
Everything you need to know before you head to the polls — explained simply!
Election Day Basics
When: Tuesday, August 4
Poll Hours: 6:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Important: If you’re in line by 7:00 PM, you STILL get to vote!
Find Your Polling Place: Missouri Polling Place Locator
What’s on Your Ballot?
Pro Tip: Click here to see your exact sample ballot before Election Day!
Statewide Issues (Amendments)
| Amendment | What It Does | Learn More |
|---|---|---|
| Amendment 1 | Renews a tax for 10 years to fund social services, water conservation, state parks & historic sites | Details |
| Amendment 2 | Requires all charter counties to elect their county assessor (instead of appointing) | Details |
| Amendment 4 | • Requires congressional district approval for constitutional amendments • Bans foreign money in petition drives • Adds penalties for petition fraud |
Details |
| Amendment 5 | Phases out state income tax and lets lawmakers raise/implement sales taxes to replace the money | Details |
State Auditor Race
Republican Primary: Scott Fitzpatrick (incumbent) vs. Gerald Wistrand Jr.
Democratic Primary: Quentin Wilson vs. Gregory Upchurch
Watch candidate interviews
Congressional Races (U.S. House)
| District | Republican Candidates | Democratic Candidates | Other |
|---|---|---|---|
| District 7 (SW MO) | Eric Burlison (incumbent), John Casey, Grayson Hunt | Missi Hesketh (unopposed) | Kevin Craig, Libertarian (unopposed) |
| District 4 (W MO) | Mark Alford (incumbent), Heather Shelton, Scott Vincent Vera | 7 candidates | Thomas Holbrook, Libertarian (unopposed) |
| District 8 (S MO) | Jason Smith (incumbent), Gordon Heslop | Chris Reichard, Frank Barnitz | — |
| District 3 (Central MO) | Bob Onder (incumbent), John G. Fraser | Bethany Mann, Paul Wilson, Tommy Holstein | — |
Watch all congressional candidate interviews:
State Legislature Races
- State Senate: Several contested primaries (including District 20: Curtis Trent vs. Lori Rook)
Watch Senate interviews - Missouri House: Multiple contested races
Watch House interviews
Local Issues & Races
- Tax Questions: School districts, fire districts, and cities (including Lebanon & West Plains) asking for tax increases or bonds
Watch local tax issue coverage - County Offices: Nearly every county voting on countywide positions (Camden, Christian, Polk Counties choosing presiding commissioner nominees)
Missouri’s Voter ID Law — What You MUST Bring
IMPORTANT CALLOUT: YOU NEED PHOTO ID TO VOTE!
Acceptable Forms of ID (must be nonexpired unless noted):
- Missouri driver’s license or non-driver license
- Military ID (including veteran’s ID card)
- United States passport
- Other photo ID from U.S. or Missouri government
- Exception: If expired after the most recent general election, it’s still valid!
- Expired Missouri driver/non-driver license — ONLY if expired after the most recent general election
See examples of acceptable IDs
What If You Don’t Have ID?
You can still vote with a PROVISIONAL BALLOT!
Your provisional ballot COUNTS if:
- You return to your polling place on Election Day with a photo ID, OR
- Your signature on the provisional ballot envelope matches your voter registration record
Keep your stub! It has instructions to verify your ballot was counted.
Election Results
Where to watch:
- TV: KY3, Ozarks CW, KSPR (bottom of screen)
- Online: KY3 Election Results
Note: KY3 does not post/air results for unopposed races.
Quick Checklist: Before You Go
- Check your sample ballot — Find yours here
- Find your polling place — Locator tool
- Grab your photo ID — See accepted list above
- Plan your time — Polls open 6 AM to 7 PM
- Know the issues — Watch candidate interviews linked above
Summary
Missouri’s August 4 primary decides who moves on to the general election in November. You’ll vote on:
- 4 statewide constitutional amendments (taxes, elections, petition rules)
- State Auditor and Congressional nominees
- State legislature candidates
- Local tax issues and county offices
Bring photo ID. If you forget, ask for a provisional ballot — your vote can still count! Polls are open 6 AM to 7 PM.
FAQ — Your Questions Answered
1. Can I vote if I’m not registered with a party?
Yes! Missouri has open primaries — you choose which party’s ballot you want when you check in (Republican, Democratic, or Libertarian).
2. What if my ID is expired?
If it’s a Missouri driver/non-driver license expired after the last general election, it works! Other expired IDs are not accepted.
3. Do I have to vote on everything?
Nope! You can skip any race or issue. Your other votes still count.
4. Can I take a photo of my ballot?
Missouri law prohibits photographing a voted ballot. Save the selfie for your "I Voted" sticker!
5. What if I make a mistake on my ballot?
Ask a poll worker for a new ballot — don’t try to fix it yourself!
Questions or Corrections?
Email: digitalnews@ky3.com
Include the article info in your subject line.
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