St. Joseph voters explain importance of participating in elections 

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) -- With elections underway, St. Joseph residents are making their voices heard at the polls. 

Polling locations opened at 6 a.m. Tuesday and will stay open until 7 p.m.

Once voting ends, ballots will be counted, with the winners moving on to the November General Election ballots.

At the Pony Express Museum polling location, voter Kari Prewitt said every vote makes a difference. 

“I don’t think that people understand your one little voice and it does matter. It is your right to vote, and no offense, I don’t want to hear someone complain about what happened if they didn’t vote,” Prewitt said.  

Prewitt has lived in St. Joseph for about 23 years and said she votes whenever she can.  

She believes it's important for people to speak up about the issues that matter to them.  

“That kind of speaks on how you believe in your community, believe in the government, and you need to put your two sense and you need to speak up for what you believe in,” Prewitt said.  

Another voter, Spencer Klaassen, said he came out to make sure his opinion was heard and to let leaders know what the community wants. 

He hopes voting helps move the community in a positive direction and encourages leaders to listen to residents' concerns.  

“I have been a St. Joseph resident for about 26 years, and I have voted in most of the elections since then, but every once in a while you are out of time or forget or something like that,” Klaassen said.  

He added how voting is part of everyone's civic duty and a way to help make the city and state a better place to live.  

“But I guess I always just feel better after I have voted that I have done my parts and let the leaders take it from there,” Klaassen added.  

Another St. Joseph voter, Bruce Brown, said casting a ballot is important, but he wishes he had spent more time researching every candidate before heading to the polls.  

“If you educate yourself and you understand the issues and the language of the initiative especially, then you should come and vote,” he said.  

Brown said he hopes more people take advantage of their right to vote instead of simply complaining when things don't go the way they want. 

As election results come in, he's hopeful he made the right choices at the ballot box and that others recognize just how important it is to get out and vote. 

A full voter guide is available on our website at KQ2.com.