Missouri, Kansas enter into agreement for enhancing voter roll accuracy

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - Mentioning Missouri and Kansas in the same sentence often features a conversation of rivalry or feud. But a new partnership between the two states hopes to transform how voter registration records are maintained.

A collaborative effort announced Tuesday by both secretaries of state promises to enhance election integrity and streamline administration, with implications reaching far beyond state lines.

Under a new memorandum of understanding, Kansas and Missouri will securely share voter registration information. The data exchange will enable local election authorities to effectively identify individuals who have relocated between the two states but may still be registered in their previous jurisdiction.

The move is particularly crucial given the frequent movement of residents across the state line, especially within the Kansas City metropolitan area, both officials stated.

“By working directly with Missouri, we can reduce duplicate registrations created when residents move across the state line by updating voter registration records timely and as allowed by law,” Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab said.

Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins echoed that statement.

“This partnership is good government, plain and simple. Missouri already conducts rigorous list maintenance under federal and state law, but working directly with Kansas allows us to improve accuracy even further. When voters move, their information should follow them—and our local election officials deserve every available tool to keep the rolls clean, current, and transparent,” Hoskins said.