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Missouri Voters Reject Measure to Limit Their Ballot Box Powers
The New York Times • • nation
Key Points:
- Missouri voters rejected a legislative attempt to raise the threshold for passing citizen-sponsored constitutional amendments, preserving the existing simple majority statewide rule.
- The proposed measure would have required a majority in each of Missouri's eight congressional districts to pass amendments, the highest such threshold among states allowing citizen initiatives.
- Opponents argued the measure could allow amendments with overwhelming statewide support to fail due to district-level vote disparities; none of Missouri's recent amendments have won in all districts.
- The higher threshold would not have applied to Legislature-placed amendments, which require only a simple majority, highlighting legislative efforts to limit citizen initiatives.
- Missouri has a long history of citizen-sponsored ballot initiatives influencing key social issues, including past efforts on prohibition and school segregation.
