To Lauri Ealom, Kansas City Election Board Democratic Chair, voting is personal, a matter of pride and a tradition her parents instilled in her from a young age. For Shawn Kieffer, Kansas City Election Board Republican Chair, voting is just as fundamental.
Together, Ealom and Kieffer offer a clear, bipartisan message: voting matters, every vote counts and local elections have a direct impact on daily life.
“Local voting is important because many aspects of daily life in Missouri are shaped by elected officials and ballot measures,” Ealom said. “Voting influences who makes decisions about taxes, budgets, laws and priorities at the local, state, and federal levels.”
Those decisions affect far more than high-profile races for president or governor. Local elections determine things like:
- School funding and policies like curriculum and library materials
- Public safety services, crime prevention programs and police/fire/EMS services
- How quickly potholes are repaired
- Utilities and infrastructure such as water quality and sewer improvements
- Cost of living through property taxes, sales taxes and utility regulations
- Local services like libraries and parks
In recent Missouri elections voters have also decided major issues including Medicaid expansion, recreational marijuana legalization, minimum wage increases, transportation funding and local school bond measures. Primary elections also matter because, in many districts, they can help determine who ultimately holds office.
For voters who believe their one vote does not make a difference, both election board leaders say history proves otherwise.
“We have had more than one election decided by just a few votes,” Kieffer said. “Every vote does count.”
Ealom encourages anyone who doubts the process to get closer to it. She suggests serving as a poll worker and strongly urges attending the public tests held before every election, where residents can observe voting equipment testing, ask questions and better understand the protections in place.
Both Ealom and Kieffer stress the importance of the protections in place to make sure elections are secure, accurate and fair. By Missouri law, the process requires bipartisan participation, pre- and post-election equipment testing, chain-of-custody procedures and random recounting. Kieffer said election results are tested and retested several times before they are certified.
Ealom recommends that voters create a plan. She suggests visiting KCEB.org and entering their last name and date of birth. That will show what ward and precinct they are in, where the voting locations are and the sample ballot for their ward and precinct. Voters can then print the sample ballot, research the candidates and issues, fill it out and bring it with them to the polls. Also on the website is a Fair Ballot Language document that explains the ballot questions in easy-to-understand terms.
“This preparation will ensure the voter has a positive voting experience,” she said.
Ealom and Kieffer recognize that there are many reasons people may not vote. Some believe their vote will not matter. Some do not realize how elections affect their daily lives. Others face barriers such as work schedules, caregiving responsibilities, health challenges or transportation issues.
Ealom said voter education is key, including introducing children to voting and civic participation early. She said many people lack exposure to the process or do not understand the history and importance of voting.
Kieffer said people often feel too busy or assume their vote will not affect the outcome.
“But it can,” he said. “Many results could change if voters took voting seriously.”
When more eligible voters participate, election results reflect a broader range of experiences, concerns and priorities and bring more voices into the decision-making process.
“We need everyone’s input to best figure out how this city should run for all of us,” Kieffer said.
Ealom said voting helps ensure elected officials represent a wider range of residents, not just those who participate in high-turnout presidential years. Local and primary elections, which often have lower turnout, can make each vote even more powerful.
For someone who is eligible to vote but has not participated in recent elections, both Ealom and Kieffer encourage a practical first step: begin preparation today.
“Start now,” Kieffer said. “Check your voter registration. Educate yourself about upcoming elections, talk with friends and family about issues and get to the polls. Voting affects everything we do.”
For Ealom, the message comes back to pride, participation and community.
“Voting is not just a political act,” she said. “It is a way for residents to help shape the places they live, the services they rely on and the future they want to see.”
Every election is an opportunity to be heard. And every voter who participates helps strengthen the community they call home.