A collection of historical memorabilia is at the Miller Nichols Library

Registering differs from entitlement

By: Jumoke Balogun

Posted: 9/2/08

According to the Missouri Secretary of State office, to register to vote, one must meet three qualifications: be a citizen of the United States, a resident of Missouri and 18-years-old on Election Day.

To be entitled to vote, you must be registered to vote in the jurisdiction of your home prior to the election.

According to the Kansas City Election Board, Jackson County is separated into two jurisdictions: Kansas City and the rest of Jackson County.

These include Grain Valley, Grandview, Blue Springs, Independence, Lee's Summit, Lone Jack, Sugar Creek, Unity Village, Oak Grove, Buckner and other smaller towns in the county. If you wish to vote in Kansas City, then you have to re-register in this jurisdiction.

Also, if you recently changed counties or states and want to vote in Jackson County, then you must re-register.

A criminal record can also restrict your voting rights. A person currently incarcerated, on probation or parole after being convicted of a felony, cannot vote. A felon can register to vote after a successful completion of probation.

Also, anyone convicted of a felony or misdemeanor related to voting or deemed incapacitated cannot vote.

You can register to vote at most libraries in Jackson County, at the election board office located on 1828 Walnut, Suite 300 or at any permanent voter registration sites. The complete list of these sites is available at www.kceb.org. The last day to register to vote in the November elections is Oct. 8.

Missourians are able to register online at www.sos.mo.gov/elections/register2vote/

A registration form can be printed from the Web site on standard office paper and then mailed.

Voters can look up the addresses they are registered at and their registration statuses at https://mcvr.mo.gov/voterlookup.

Important dates to remember:

Sept. 1-4: Republican Party - Presidential Nominating Convention (St. Paul, Minnesota)

jbalogun@unews.com