In the August or September of odd-numbered years, election booklets for the Neighborhood Advisory Council are mailed to all neighborhood and homeowner associations that are registered with the City. Any group that does not receive a booklet by the 10th of September should download the election booklet and contact the Neighborhood Services Division immediately, because only active, registered groups are eligible to vote.
To check your group's status in the division's database, visit the online listing or call the division's office at (816) 513-3200. All groups must complete this process by Sept. 30 of an election year in order to receive a ballot. The ballots are generally sent out during the last two weeks of October or the first week of November, and are due back by the end of November.
Candidates
Anyone wishing to be a candidate in a Neighborhood Advisory Council election, either for their region or at large, must fill out the candidate application (also found in the election booklet) by the end of September of the election year. Candidates must satisfy the following requirements:
- Proof of residency
- Reside within the City limits of Kansas City, Mo., if seeking an at-large position
- Reside within the region, or within the boundaries of an association that is located in that region, if seeking a regional position
- Attest that they have been a continuous resident of the State of Missouri for no less than one year
- Warrants
- Attest that they have no outstanding warrants from federal, state or local authorities
- Taxpayer status
- Attest that they do not owe any delinquent federal taxes, state taxes, local property taxes, personal property taxes, or income/earnings taxes
- Voting status
- Be a registered Missouri voter
- Conflicts of interest
- Disclose any potential conflicts of interest (e.g., serving on other boards or commissions, or being a City employee) on the application and in the voter information booklet enclosed with the ballot.
Candidates who are not deemed qualified by the election administrators will be given a chance to provide additional material proving their qualifications. All candidates should be prepared to attend a candidate forum to introduce themselves to the neighborhood groups that will be voting and explain their positions. In addition to the forum, a short position statement from each candidate will be published in the booklet accompanying the ballots.
Election
The election is conducted by mail-in ballot in October/November, with each registered group receiving one ballot (replacements will be made available if needed). Only those candidates (regional and at-large) who would be representing that group on the advisory council, will be on the ballot mailed to them. If a group has no mailing address on file, they may pick up a ballot from the Neighborhood Services Division's office, on the 4th floor of City Hall.
No write-in candidates are allowed. Groups are encouraged to decide which candidates their group shall support, at their discretion. Ballots must be signed by an officer or registered contact to be valid.
Taking office
New members elected to the Neighborhood Advisory Council are notified in late November, pending any challenges or run-off elections, and an orientation session is held in December before they officially join the advisory council in January.
For more information about this opportunity for direct input into City procedure and policy, contact the Neighborhood Services Division at (816) 513-3200 or by e-mail at solutions_ncsd@kcmo.org.
