Smart Talks. Cold Drinks.
Presenting THINK & DRINK – where the curious gather. This ongoing lecture series delivers a wide array of topics that generate fresh perspectives, ideas, and discussion. These community-driven events are powered by a collaboration between UMKC, Linda Hall Library, The Third Place Historian, and Casual Animal Brewing Company.
Your RSVP is appreciated to help us preset the room and accommodate as many seats as possible for interested attendees. You will also receive at least 1 reminder email about the event when you RSVP.
July 16 - August Primary Ballot Crash Course for Kansas & Missouri Voters
Moderator: Brian Ellison, Senior Political Analyst for KCUR 89.3
Panelists: Representatives from Mainstream Coalition and Respect MO Voters
Join us for a special nonpartisan community discussion designed to help voters better understand the upcoming August primary elections in Kansas and Missouri before heading to the polls.
This moderated panel will break down the major races, ballot questions, and policy debates shaping the Kansas City metro and beyond. State and local elections shape people’s daily lives far more directly than many realize, especially when it comes to public schools, constitutional rights, taxes, courts, and local government. In a metro area split between Kansas and Missouri, voters are not just choosing candidates; they are deciding who holds power, how schools are governed, how courts interpret rights, and how much influence citizens themselves will have over the political process.
Also onsite will be the League of Women Voters with voter registration information and other resources.
The larger goal of the event is to help people feel more informed, less overwhelmed, and more confident walking into the voting booth. Rather than telling people what to think, the discussion aims to explain how these systems work, why these races and amendments matter, and how political, educational, and constitutional debates in Kansas and Missouri are increasingly shaping the future of the Kansas City region.