As with many ballot issues we have seen in the past few years, the ballot language is misleading and omits what you really are voting on.

What the ballot language does not tell you is that you will be giving up your right to vote on five present officeholders in Clay County.

It also does not tell you that four more commissioners are being added, bringing the total to seven. Unfortunately, two of the four new commission slots are at-large positions.

The at-large commissioners are voted on by the entire county, which leaves rural and smaller populated areas (i.e., Excelsior Springs, Kearney and Smithville) with even less of a voice than they already have.

Citizens were deliberately not given the complete facts on the ballot language. When the approved committee delivered their flyers last week, they had a second chance to tell the citizens what they were voting on and once again they chose not to.

I hope this helps you make an informed decision when you cast your vote.