Missouri Primary Election Tues, Aug 5th, 2014: Voter guide - Find your polling place, ballots, candidates, issues

Missouri's primary elections are being held across the state on Tuesday, August 5th, 2014.

"I bicycle/I walk/I run and I vote" is one of the most powerful statement we can make to any elected leader, in our work to make Missouri a better, safer place to walk and bicycle.

I bicycle and I vote!

So whatever your party, whoever your candidates, whatever your issues, please get out and VOTE on Tuesday, August 5th.

Amendment 7 - First statewide transportation funding plan in history to incorporate funding for bicycling and walking

Amendment 7, the first transportation funding plan in Missouri's history to fully integrate bicycling, walking, trails, and public transit into Missouri's statewide transportation funding, is on the August 5th ballot.

• MoBikeFed has endorsed Amendment 7 (Vote "Yes") because it is the first statewide transporation funding plan in Missouri history to embrace bicycling, walking, and transit.
• Read MoBikeFed's position and find out more about Amendment 7 here. 
• Survey results: Missouri bicyclists, pedestrians, and trail users support Amendment 7 by a wide margin
• Other bike, ped, trails, and transit organizations' positions and information on Amendment 7 are below.

MoBikeFed Voter Guide for the August 5th, 2014, Primary Election

Finding your polling place and sample ballot

• Polling places are open 6am to 7pm on Election Day.  You will need some form of ID.  More info and FAQ about voting here.
• Find your polling place here - lists your polling place with address.  
• Locate your local election authority's web site, which typically has lists of candidates, ballot initiatives, and sample ballots.
• You can vote absentee ballot starting six weeks before the election--though you must have a reason, such as traveling on election day 

About Missouri's Primary Elections

• This is a primary election, so you first declare your party: Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, or Constitution Party.  
• You will then be presented with a list of candidates for that party; the winners from each party will meet in the final elections in November
• You can declare any party you wish.  You don't have to choose the party you chose last time, the party you usually vote for, or follow any other rule--by Missouri law, you simply declare to the election official which party's primary you wish to vote in.
• You can also declare "Non-partisan".  That means you will vote only on ballot issues, not any any party's primary candidates.

Information about candidates

• Which primary elections and seats are hotly contested?  Where could your vote or donation make the most difference? Here is our list of Key Primary Races in Missouri for 2014. 
• Links to websites of candidates for statewide office and Congress
• Information about Missouri State House of Representatives Candidates 
• Information about Missouri State Senate Candidates
• Put any state or federal candidate's name into the Project VoteSmart search box to find background, biographical information, and links to the candidate's web site.

August 2014 Ballot Issues

Five statewide ballot issues are up for a vote on August 5th.

• Of primary interest to our members and supporters is Amendment 7, a new transportation funding plan that--for the first time in Missouri history--creates state funding for bicycle, pedestrian, and public transportation projects.  
  
  What bike, ped, trails, & transit  projects are included in A7: Statewide, St Louis, Kansas City, Springfield
  
  

  Here are what bicycle, pedestrian, trails, and transit organizations across Missouri are saying about Amendment 7:

  • MoBikeFed endorses Amendment 7 - here is why and here is what our members think about A7
     
  • BikeWalkKC - Informational Issue Paper on A7
     
  • PedNet, Columbia - Information about A7
     
  • Trailnet, St. Louis - opposes A7
     
  • LetsGoSmart, Springfield - supports A7
     
  • Missouri Public Transit Association - supports A7 (details)
     
  • Citizens for Modern Transit, St Louis - supports A7
     
  • Regional Transit Alliance, Kansas City - information about A7
     
• Find out about the other four ballot issues on Ballotpedia and the Missouri Secretary of State web site.

Local Issues

Many local municipalities will have issues on the ballot.  You can google location:mo cityname elections to find local information.

A few local highlights:

• Trailnet interviewed St Louis County Executive Candidates on the issues
• Boone County is voting on EPIC, a county-wide parks and recreation initiative
• Kansas City: Initiative A to create an expanded streetcar district