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The latest news from every corner of the state, including policy emerging from Missouri's capitol.

MO Groups to Lawmakers: Don't Limit Citizen-Led Ballot Petitions

Selective focus on Yes or No options on an election ballot with a blurred hand holding a marker to cast a vote
Susan Schmitz - A Dog's Life Pho/adogslifephoto - stock.adobe.com
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Selective focus on Yes or No options on an election ballot with a blurred hand holding a marker to cast a vote

The proposed legislation would double the number of signatures required to get on the ballot and raise the thresholds to pass them from a majority to two-thirds.

Some lawmakers in Jefferson City are pushing forward bills that would limit citizens' ability to put constitutional amendments on the ballot.

The proposed legislation would double the number of signatures required to get on the ballot and raise the thresholds to pass them from a majority to two-thirds.

Benjamin Singer, CEO of the group Show Me Integrity, noted the signature requirement would be one of the highest in the country, and argued only the highest-funded campaigns, many often connected to special interests would make it through for voters' approval.

"Since 1875, Missouri's Constitution has guaranteed, 'The people reserve power to propose and enact or reject laws and amendments to the Constitution by the initiative independent of the General Assembly,' " Singer pointed out. "And that's why it's defended by organizations and leaders from right to left, all across the political spectrum."

There have been a number of successful citizen-led ballot campaigns in recent years, from expanding eligibility for Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act to legalizing medical marijuana and raising the minimum wage. Proponents of the bills said it is too easy for citizens to circumvent the Legislature and pass their own laws.

Singer countered citizen petitions are not the only way to pass a constitutional amendment. Legislators themselves can also put questions on the ballot. He added if there are going to be higher standards for citizen-led amendments, the same standard should apply for legislators.

"The questions initiated by the Legislature have the lowest participation among all ballot questions," Singer noted. "And yet, the legislative referrals are not limited in terms of requiring the huge supermajority to put these on the ballot."

Currently, petitioners from the public need signatures from 8% of voters representing two-thirds of the state's congressional districts, which comes out to about 170,000 signatures. The proposed legislation would raise the requirement to 10% of voters representing all districts, requiring 300,000 signatures or more.

Originally from just outside Boston, Lily Bohlke is formerly from 2020Talks, a show tracking politics and elections, that started prior to the 2020 Iowa caucuses at KHOI in Ames. She's also a past intern for the Iowa Center for Public Affairs Journalism.