Belton, Missouri Public Records

Registration must be completed at least 28 days before election day, specifically, by the fourth Wednesday prior. New residents may also register in person at the Cass County Clerk's office or at Missouri license offices. Voters must present identification at the polls, either a government-issued photo ID or documents like utility bills, bank statements, paychecks, or other government papers showing name and current address. Municipal elections in Belton follow a mayor-council structure with six ward-based council members and an at-large mayor. These contests take place in April of odd-numbered years - 2025, 2027, and so on, with the next regular election scheduled for April 2025. The mayor serves a four-year term while council members also serve four-year terms on a staggered basis, with roughly half the seats contested every two years. Candidates file for office during December and January before the April election. Those seeking filing information can contact Belton City Hall at (816) 331-4331 or the Cass County Clerk. Results for municipal races and local ballot measures appear on both www.belton.org and through the Cass County election authority. Residents can find their assigned polling place through the Missouri Secretary of State's voter information portal at www.sos.mo.gov/elections/voterlookup by entering name and date of birth or voter registration details. The system displays the polling location address, sample ballot, and registration status. Cass County operates 20-25 polling sites countywide on election day, with local voters assigned to schools, community centers, and public buildings within the city. During the November 2024 presidential election, roughly 60,000 voters in Cass County turned out at a rate of 65-70% of registered voters, demonstrating strong civic participation in this suburban Kansas City county. Publicly accessible election records include voter registration lists available for purchase with restrictions on commercial use, campaign finance reports through the Missouri Ethics Commission at www.mec.mo.gov, candidate filing information, precinct-level results, and polling locations. Voter history showing which elections someone participated in - though not how they voted - is also public record. The November 3, 2026 general election will bring several important races to the area. Missouri's gubernatorial election won't occur until 2028, and no U.S. Senate seat is up in 2026, but all 163 seats in the Missouri House of Representatives will be contested, including districts representing the city. Belton falls within Missouri House District 125 and surrounding districts depending on specific addresses. Various Cass County offices will also appear on the ballot: county commission seats, prosecuting attorney, sheriff, assessor, collector, treasurer, recorder of deeds, public administrator, and coroner, all serving four-year terms. Missouri law permits absentee voting for registered voters meeting specific criteria: absence from the jurisdiction on election day, incapacity or confinement due to illness or physical disability, religious belief or practice, employment as an election authority or poll worker, incarceration while maintaining voting qualifications, or certified participation in the address confidentiality program. Absentee ballot applications are available through the Cass County Clerk or online at the Secretary of State's website, with completed applications due by the second Wednesday before the election. Missouri also offers no-excuse absentee voting by mail for any registered voter, with applications accepted starting six weeks before election day. Absentee ballots must be returned by mail - postmarked by election day and received within two business days - or delivered in person to the election authority by 7:00 PM on election day.