Ballot Issue

Amendment 3 supporters are emphasizing restrictions on gender-affirming care for minors — even though Missouri already bans most of it — as they seek to overturn the abortion rights that voters approved in 2024.

If passed on Nov. 3, the amendment would enshrine the “Respect Missouri Voters” initiative into the state constitution. That would require an 80% threshold for lawmakers to overturn citizen-led measures, such as the paid sick leave law approved in 2024. Then voters would be given another say at the ballot box.

The Respect Missouri Voters plan would make it much harder for lawmakers to overturn voter-approved ballot initiatives.

Attorney General Catherine Hanaway defended her support for withholding Amendment 6 and a vote on Missouri's gerrymandered congressional map from the November ballot. There is no exception in the constitution prohibiting a referendum on redistricting — but there's no explicit permission either.

The state's highest court will hear arguments over two consequential initiatives on Sept. 2, just days before the deadline to finalize the November ballot. A circuit court judge ruled both proposals were unconstitutional.

Delivering his decision just a few hours after conducting a trial, Cole County Circuit Judge Daniel Green ruled that the Missouri Constitution does not allow referendums on congressional redistricting. However, the Missouri Supreme Court will likely be the final say in the case.

Secretary of State Denny Hoskins had blocked the Respect Missouri Voters initiative, saying it had too many subjects and constrained the legislature's power. A Cole County judge agreed, keeping the measure off the November ballot.

Trials this week will determine whether Amendment 6, which would limit legislative changes to voter-passed initiatives, and a referendum on Missouri’s congressional map will reach the Nov. 3 ballot. Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins rejected both as unconstitutional.

Both of the cases are moving quickly because Missouri law sets a Sept. 8 deadline for court orders adding questions to the November ballot.

With an early September cutoff for changes to the Missouri ballot, the chief justice asked for "sufficient time for expedited appellate review" of the complex issues. Because if the referendum is approved, it would also throw the results of the Aug. 4 primary into question.

Despite the backing of Gov. Mike Kehoe, proposed constitutional amendments that would have made it more difficult for citizens to change the constitution and start the process of eliminating the state income tax were overwhelmingly rejected by Missouri voters.

While Republicans are considering how they want to approach tax cuts as well as making it harder to amend the constitution, Democrats plan to use the Republican lawmakers' support of 4 and 5 against them.