Voters across Springfield are heading to the polls today, November 3, 2026, for a general election that local election officials expect will draw high turnout.
Polls opened across Greene County at 6 a.m. and will remain open until 7 p.m. Anyone standing in line by 7 p.m. retains the legal right to cast a ballot. Ahead of Tuesday, nearly 14,000 residents had already cast absentee ballots by Thursday, October 29.
An Unusual Statewide Ballot Drives Local Engagement
Greene County Clerk Shane Schoeller noted that this election cycle is “unusual.” Only one statewide race—state auditor—appears on the ballot, a configuration that recurs only once every twelve years. When the same dynamic last occurred in 2014, Greene County recorded 33.2% voter turnout.
Schoeller told the News-Leader via text he anticipates voter turnout for the Nov. 3 election to fall between 58-59%. That surge is driven by higher-interest ballot questions and a competitive Missouri Senate race.
Voters still needing to review their options can consult sample ballots by address using the Greene County Clerk’s Office website. Nonpartisan resources include the Informed Voter Coalition, a collaborative effort of 13 local organizations offering candidate video interviews, and the League of Women Voters’ guide at Vote411.org.
Relocate Two Polling Places for Election Day
Most voters must head to their assigned neighborhood precinct. The Greene County Clerk’s Office website and the Missouri Secretary of State’s website both host searchable polling place locators.
Because of the election’s broad scale and extensive nature, the clerk revealed that two voting sites will temporarily shift for the Nov. 3 contest:
- Voters in precinct 27-BC who previously voted at the Library Station will now vote at Williams Elementary School, located at 2205 W. Kearney St.
- Voters in precinct 16-C who previously voted at Bissett Elementary will cast their ballots at York Elementary School, located at 2100 W. Nichols St.
Greene County has established several central polling places where any registered county voter can cast a ballot:
- Missouri State University’s Davis Herrington Welcome Center (1148 E. Bear Blvd.)
- Cox South Hospital (3801 S. National Ave.)
- City Utilities Transit Center (211 N. Main Ave.)
- Mercy Hospital (1235 E. Cherokee St.)
- Historic Greene County Courthouse (940 N. Boonville Ave.)
Voters are required to present a valid government-issued ID to cast a regular ballot. Acceptable credentials include a nonexpired Missouri driver or non-driver license, a nonexpired military or veteran ID card, or a valid U.S. passport. Electors who arrive without identification may submit a provisional ballot; they can subsequently bring their ID back to be verified, or election officials will check whether the signature on their provisional envelope matches the one on file in voter rolls.
Federal and State Contests on the Ballot
In Missouri’s 7th Congressional District, incumbent U.S. Rep. Eric Burlison, a Republican, is running for his third term. First elected to the U.S. House in 2023, Burlison previously served both in the Missouri House and Senate. Throughout his tenure in the nation’s capital, his efforts have focused on modifying SNAP work requirements, addressing challenges that property owners face with the Army Corps of Engineers, and advocating for enhanced scrutiny surrounding UFO sightings.
Burlison faces two challengers: Democrat Missi Hesketh and Libertarian Kevin Craig. Hesketh boasts a teaching career spanning upwards of twenty years and currently instructs gifted students within the Ozark school district. She formerly served on Forsyth’s city council and as mayor until 2025. Her platform pledges the hosting of regular town hall gatherings every three months, demands a halt to military involvement in Iran, and advocates for a higher corporate income tax rate. Craig, a California native, refers to himself as a Christian anarchist who is campaigning for “liberty under God.” Craig seeks to dismantle government bodies and administrative structures that he considers contrary to the Constitution.
Local Legislative Battles Across Springfield Districts
Voters will also decide a field of Missouri House races across the Springfield area:
- District 130: Republican incumbent Rep. Bishop Davidson faces Democrat Leslie Jones. Davidson was first elected in 2020 and serves on committees regarding taxation. Having spent fifteen years as a credentialed music therapist and over a decade running Musical Bridges Music Therapy, Jones brings her small-business background to the race. Her platform features backing for Medicaid expansion, the implementation of a statewide Prescription Drug Monitoring Program, and the inclusion of gender identity and sexual orientation protections within the state’s Human Rights Act.
- District 131: Republican incumbent Rep. Bill Owen will be challenged by Democratic candidate Ashley Cossins. Owen is pursuing a fourth term after an earlier tenure in the Missouri House running from 1981 to 1982. Prior to heading to Jefferson City, he spent nearly 40 years in the banking industry. If reelected, Owen will serve as the next chair of the Missouri House Budget Committee.
- District 134: Republican incumbent Rep. Alex Riley will be challenged by Democrat Kelsey Grant. Having initially won his seat in 2020, Riley currently holds the position of House Majority Leader and is slated to step into the role of House Speaker if voters return him to office.
- District 137: Republican incumbent Rep. Darin Chappell is challenged by Bryce Lockwood. First winning election in 2022, Chappell previously instructed finance and government courses at MSU in addition to holding city manager posts in Bolivar, Chillicothe, and Seymour. Should he secure another term, Chappell aims to cut public expenditures and stands against regulations permitting utility companies to bill consumers for projects still under development. Lockwood is a Marine Corps veteran.
