Every two years, one third of the Senate, the entirety of the House of Representatives and a large portion of the Missouri General Assembly, as well as numerous ballot measures are put up for election. This year the elections are on November 6. Missouri will have numerous ballot measures put up for a vote, including amendments to the state’s constitution.

One of Missouri’s two Senate seats are up for reelection. Currently, the seat is held by democratic senator Claire McCaskill, but Missouri Secretary of State Josh Hawley has been catching up in the polls, and may have a chance of unseating McCaskill. A poll done by Reuters on October 10 places Hawley in the lead with 45 percent, and McCaskill at 44 percent.

“I am hoping that young people will be very motivated to vote.  It is such a privilege that we have a voice in our Government in this country.  It really takes a small amount of time to vote, but it makes such a huge difference,” French teacher Rebecca Jennings said.

Representative Blaine Luetkemeyer is up for reelection in November. Luetkemeyer is a republican and chairman of the house financial institutions and consumer credit subcommittee. He has been in office since 2009, and is leading in the polls this election cycle. He has also taken large amounts of campaign donations for PACs. This district was won by President Donald Trump in 2016, as well as former republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney in 2012.

“So many polls were wrong in 2016, so I’m wary of trusting them now.  I do believe that the trend of the party not in the White House gaining seats will continue, I’m just not sure how many seats Democrats will pick up,” Jennings said.

Numerous measures are on the ballot in November as well, including propositions increasing the state minimum wage to $12, restricting lobbyists and altering the district redrawing process and legalising medicinal marijuana.

“I agree most if not all should come from in state or district, if a company does business within their boundaries but technically is headquartered out of state they should be allowed to donate as well,” industrial arts teacher Richard Brown said in reference to Amendment 1.

Two state supreme court justices are also up for reelection, Justices W. Brent Powell and Mary Rhodes Russell. Justices serve a term of 12 years.

“It really takes a small amount of time to vote, but it makes such a huge difference.  I hope that all of our new voters in the building will develop a habit of voting in all elections. Get out and vote,” Jennings said.

The entirety of the Missouri House of Representatives, as well as 17 of the 34 seats in the Missouri state senate will be up for reelection.  A majority of state governors will also be up for a vote on the sixth.

“It really takes a small amount of time to vote, but it makes such a huge difference.  I hope that all of our new voters in the building will develop a habit of voting in all elections. Get out and vote,” Jennings said.