States have expanded absentee and mail-in voting options this year because of the pandemic, so voting is already underway in Missouri and across the country. In the weeks before Nov. 3, it is nearly impossible to go a day without hearing about the presidential election. Discussions of Donald Trump and Joe Biden dominate the political sphere, and most Washington University students have already decided who they support.

But what about the issues that are farther down on the ballot this fall? Missouri does not have a Senate race this year, but there are many statewide and local races that will play critical roles in what the daily lives of Missourians look like for years to come.

For those voting in Missouri, Student Life put together a guide to help you sort through all of the different amendments and races on your ballot this November.

Here is an overview of the races that will appear on the ballot for students voting in Missouri:

Missouri Amendment 1

The first proposed amendment on the ballot, Amendment 1 would change the Missouri state constitution by instituting term limits (two terms of four years each) on state executives. In the current constitution, only the governor and treasurer are term-limited, while the lieutenant governor, state auditor, secretary of state and attorney general are not.

Amendment proponents argue that the change would bring consistency across state executive positions and prevent career politicians from seizing power, while opponents say that decisions should remain in the hands of Missouri voters.

Missouri Amendment 3

The other proposed amendment on the ballot, Amendment 3, would slightly adjust state lobbying and campaign finance laws and undo important aspects of Clean Missouri, a ballot initiative that Missouri voters passed in 2018 with 62% of the vote. Clean Missouri strengthened state lobbying laws and put a nonpartisan commission in charge of creating state legislative districts, but state legislators voted this spring to put the issue on the ballot again this fall.

Amendment proponents say that the changes reduce the influence of lobbying and monied interests, while the measure’s opponents, who range from gubernatorial candidate Nicole Galloway to the editorial board of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and former Republican U.S. Senator John Danforth, argue that the amendment would take power away from Missouri voters and allow for increased corruption.

Governor: Mike Parson vs. Nicole Galloway

Parson, a Republican, became Missouri’s governor in the spring of 2018 after then-governor Eric Greitens resigned amidst a scandal. He faces Democrat Nicole Galloway, the state auditor. The coronavirus and crime in Missouri’s cities have been key issues in the race. Parson has focused on a Trump-esque expansion of law enforcement in St. Louis and Kansas City, while Galloway has highlighted the need for criminal justice reform. Galloway has argued that Parson, who has defended the lack of a statewide mask mandate and contracted the virus himself, has mishandled the state’s response to the pandemic.

Lieutenant Governor: Mike Kehoe vs. Alissia Canady

Parson appointed Kehoe, a Republican, in June 2018 after leaving the position to become governor. Canady, a Democrat, is a former member of the Kansas City City Council. The lieutenant governor serves both as first in the line of succession to the governor and as the president of the Missouri state senate. Kehoe told Jefferson City’s “News Tribune” that he will focus on getting the economy running again after the pandemic ends, arguing that his efforts to support Missouri’s small businesses demonstrate how he will help the state going forward. Canaday, on the other hand, stressed the importance of effective pandemic management, telling the Tribune that economic recovery will stem from handling COVID-19 well. Her campaign has also focused on the need to address racial injustice in Missouri.

Secretary of State: Jay Ashcroft vs. Yinka Faleti

Ashcroft, a Republican, is the incumbent, while Faleti, a Democrat, is a former state prosecutor. The secretary of state handles Missouri elections and other administrative responsibilities, ranging from state archives and libraries to business registration. During his four years in office, Ashcroft has worked to limit government regulation of businesses and expand voter identification laws, arguing without much evidence that voter fraud is a significant issue in the state. Faleti, who is a Wash. U. law alum, has focused on providing expanded voting opportunities for Missouri residents and removing partisan bias from the secretary of state’s office.

Attorney General: Eric Schmitt vs. Rich Finneran

The attorney general serves as the state’s chief legal officer and represents the state in court. After former attorney general Josh Hawley took over as U.S. Senator in 2019, Schmitt, a Republican, filled the role by appointment from Parson. In his short time as Attorney General, Schmitt spearheaded the Safer Streets Initiative aimed at prosecuting violent crime in Missouri. He has seen backlash, however, for his decision to stay in a lawsuit contesting the Affordable Care Act. In turn, Finneran, a Democrat and former federal prosecutor who focused on white-collar criminal cases has made health care (and getting out of that aforementioned lawsuit) one of the key points of his campaign. He argues that the Attorney General office has been politicized. The St. Louis County native is a Wash. U. law graduate and an adjunct law professor at the University.

Treasurer: Scott Fitzpatrick vs. Vicki Englund

The treasurer serves as the state’s chief financial officer, meaning that they handle all money-related issues, from government contracts to the authorization of state spending. In 2019, Fitzpatrick, a Republican, was also appointed to the position by Parson after Schmitt, the former treasurer, became attorney general. Fitzpatrick has touted an initiative that used millions of dollars in unclaimed property to cover unpaid child support. If elected, he will focus on continuing to expand the Show-Me Checkbook, an online system started by Schmitt in 2018 that reveals how local governments are spending their money. Englund, a Democrat, is a former South St. Louis County state representative and 20-year online retail business owner. Her main goal revolves around improving the local economy, especially after the coronavirus. Englund has proposed one solution every day on Twitter about how to improve the Missouri economy.

U.S. Congress

Most Washington University students live in Missouri’s 1st Congressional District, where Cori Bush beat 10-term incumbent Lacy Clay in the August Democratic primary. The district is heavily Democratic, so Bush is expected to coast to Washington past Republican Anthony Rogers in the general election.

If you live further into St. Louis County, however, it’s possible you have a say in a much tighter congressional election. In Missouri’s 2nd Congressional District, Republican Ann Wagner, who has been in office since 2013, faces a challenge from Democrat Jill Schupp, a state senator. Wagner beat Democrat Cort VanOstran by four percentage points in 2018, but a September poll had the two candidates tied, and the race is expected to be down to the wire.

Other Races

All Missouri voters will vote on a state representative this year, and some will elect state senators. Depending on where you live, you might also have separate ballot initiatives or local elections. If you would like to see exactly what your specific ballot will look like when you vote, you can check out a sample ballot by inputting your address on Ballotpedia. For more information about each of the items on the ballot, you can check out the nonpartisan voter guide that Student Union developed.

Benjamin Simon contributed research.