Group sues Hoskins to keep current initiative petition process

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A group has filed a lawsuit against Secretary of State Denny Hoskins in their attempt to protect Missouri’s initiative petition process in its current form.

Claire Harris, Jamie Howard and Eric Bonner – who are residents of Greene, Cole and St. Louis counties, respectively – wrote that they signed a petition that would have protected the state’s current initiative petition process, and claimed there were enough signatures to put it to a vote.

Hoskins had indicated during a Tuesday press conference that the petition was insufficient – which he also announced for a petition challenging tje new congressional map. People Not Politicians followed up with a lawsuit of their own over that issue.

Harris, Howard and Bonner declare in their lawsuit that the petition they submitted was sufficient and claimed Hoskins’ decision was unconstitutional and they are seeking to get the measure on the November ballot.

Respect Missouri Voters – the group who filed the lawsuit – shared a statement to ABC 17 News.

"For 118 years, Missourians have relied on citizen initiatives to take issues directly to the people, independent of the legislature," co-founder Benjamin Singer wrote in the statement. "We are confident the courts will uphold the law, protect the integrity of Missouri's initiative process, and ensure Missourians retain their constitutional right to make their voices heard."