Missouri ballot issues in the November general election
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Missourians will see five statewide issues -- not counting judicial retention questions -- on their ballots this November.
Those questions range from outlawing abortion and gender transition treatments for minors to limiting the General Assembly's ability to undo policy approved by a statewide vote of the people. Another would create a sovereign wealth fund with the eventual goal of eliminating taxes.
Below are summaries of this November's ballot issues, along with each one's full text.
Amendment 3
Amendment 3 leads the list of statewide ballot issues and addresses important, divisive policy issues.
A "yes" vote would ban abortion with some exceptions, repealing the abortion amendment approved by voters in 2024. Amendment 3 would also ban gender transition treatments for minors, enshrining that ban in the state constitution. Supporters of Amendment 3 have used ads with imagery featuring drag queens to emphasize the transgender treatment ban for minors.
Ballot title
Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to:
Repeal the 2024 voter-approved Amendment providing reproductive healthcare rights, including abortion through fetal viability;
Allow abortions for rape and incest (under twelve-weeks’ gestation), emergencies, and fetal anomalies; Allow legislation regulating abortion;
Ensure parental consent for minors’ abortions;
Prohibit gender transition procedures for minors?
State governmental entities estimate no costs or savings. Greene County estimates it may experience an unknown increase in tax revenue. Other local governmental entities estimate no costs or savings.
Fair ballot language
A “yes” vote will repeal Article I, Section 36, of the Missouri Constitution approved by the voters in 2024 which provided reproductive healthcare rights, including abortion through fetal viability; continue to ensure women’s ability to access medical care for medical emergencies, ectopic pregnancies, and miscarriages; allow legislation to regulate abortion providers and facilities to ensure health and safety; require informed and voluntary consent for an abortion, including parental or judicial consent for minors; allow restriction of abortions to cases of medical emergency, rape and incest under twelve weeks gestation, and fetal anomalies; prohibit public funding of abortions except in limited circumstances; and prohibit gender transition procedures for minors including gender transition surgeries, cross-sex hormones or puberty-blocking drugs, with exceptions for specific medical conditions.
A “no” vote will leave Article I, Section 36, of the Missouri Constitution approved by voters in 2024 in place; will not limit abortion to cases of medical emergency, rape and incest under twelve weeks gestation, and fetal anomalies, but leave access to abortion available through fetal viability; will not prohibit gender transition procedures for minors.
If passed, this measure will not increase or decrease taxes.
Amendment 6
Amendment 6 is the latest chapter in the battle over how much power should be invested in the initiative petition process. Should voters be allowed to vote on whatever policy can draw enough signatures to be on the ballot?
The process has been used to enact major policy changes such as Medicaid expansion, legal marijuana and mandatory paid leave. In the case of paid leave, lawmakers rolled back those changes during the next General Assembly regular session.
For the most part, Republicans have pushed for more restrictions on the ability to get a policy question on the statewide ballot through a petition drive. They argue that Missouri's current process makes it easy for liberal, out-of-state interests with deep pockets to manipulate Missouri policy.
Supporters of Amendment 6, which would prohibit lawmakers from undoing policy changes made via a ballot question, argue that legislators should not be able to suppress the will of the people, directly expressed.
Official ballot title:
Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to:
Expand the initiative and referendum petition process by making it a fundamental right;
Allow courts to revise ballot summaries through lawsuits;
Prohibit the legislature from weakening initiative or referendum powers;
Prohibit the legislature from changing or repealing laws enacted through the initiative process, or passing laws similar to those rejected by referendum, without approval from at least 80% of both chambers; and
Preserve existing majority vote and signature requirements for initiative and referendum petitions?
State and local governmental entities estimate no costs or savings.
Fair ballot language
A “yes” vote will prohibit the people’s elected representatives from directly amending or changing any law enacted through the initiative process; require that any modifications to laws enacted through the initiative process be referred to the people by a vote of at least 80% of each chamber of the General Assembly; restrict the legislature from passing laws that limit the ability to pursue initiatives and referenda; maintain the current signature requirements of five percent of the individual legal voters in each of two-thirds of Missouri’s congressional districts for proposing a law; maintain the current signature requirement of eight percent of individual legal voters in each of two-thirds of Missouri’s congressional districts for proposing a constitutional amendment; and maintain the current requirement that a simple statewide majority of votes cast on a measure by individual legal voters is sufficient to enact any law or constitutional amendment.
A “no” vote will not change the current constitutional provisions, which already give citizens the right to propose initiatives and referenda.
If passed, this measure will not increase or decrease taxes.
Amendment 7
Amendment 7 has received little attention compared to other statewide ballot measures, and its effects would not necessarily be felt for a while.
The measure would create a "permanent public endowment fund" to support the operations of state government. Once the fund gets big enough to replace tax revenue, taxes will go away.
The fund would be called the "Show-Me Prosperity Fund."
Official ballot title:
Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to establish a permanent public endowment fund to support state government instead of taxing Missouri residents, prohibit the General Assembly from appropriating or diverting the fund, and eliminate state-imposed taxes once the fund generates sufficient revenue to replace them?
State and local governmental entities estimate no costs or savings.
Fair ballot language
A “yes” vote will amend the Missouri Constitution to establish the “Show-Me Prosperity Fund,” a permanent public endowment fund to support state government with the goal of eliminating state-imposed taxes without impairing the real value of the fund’s principal; prohibit the General Assembly from appropriating or diverting monies from the fund until notification is given by the State Treasurer that the net investment earnings of the fund are sufficient to eliminate state-imposed taxes; cap the total amount of moneys that may be appropriated from the fund in a fiscal year to three percent of the average market value of the fund over the preceding five fiscal years; and prohibit the General Assembly from enacting the eliminated state-imposed taxes, provided, however, that in the event the fund is unable to meet its obligations due to insolvency, revenue shortfall, or program failure, the General Assembly shall retain full authority to appropriate funds from any lawful source and to enact legislation establishing or increasing taxes or other revenues as necessary.
A “no” vote will not amend the Missouri Constitution to establish a permanent public endowment fund to support state government with the goal of eliminating state-imposed taxes.
If passed, this measure will have no immediate impact on taxes but could lead to the elimination of state-imposed taxes if the net investment earnings of the fund become sufficient to support that outcome.
Amendment 8
Amendment 8 would solidify the position of county sheriff in the Missouri Constitution.
If approved, it would enshrine the right of citizens to elect a county sheriff, prohibit the removal of a sheriff except through the scarcely used legal process called "quo warranto," and "recognize the office of sheriff as part of the administration of justice."
Official ballot title:
Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to support law enforcement by preserving the right of citizens to elect a county sheriff, prohibiting the removal of a county sheriff except by a writ of quo warranto, and recognizing the office of sheriff as part of the administration of justice?
State and local governmental entities estimate no costs or savings.
Fair ballot language
A “yes” vote will amend the Missouri Constitution to require counties to: elect a sheriff every four years, which is currently required by statute; place in the Constitution provisions regarding sheriffs’ duties that are currently provided by statute; and provide that an elected sheriff may be removed from office only through a writ of quo warranto initiated by the Attorney General.
A “no” vote will not amend the Missouri Constitution. Current Missouri statutes providing for the election of county sheriffs to four-year terms and governing their duties and removal will remain in effect unless changed by law.
If passed, this measure will not increase or decrease taxes.
Proposition A
Proposition A is part of the ongoing fight over Missouri's congressional map and how the state's U.S. House districts will be drawn.
The proposition asks voters whether they approve of the "Missouri First" congressional map last year by the Republican majority in the General Assembly. The map, supported by the Trump administration, would break up the Democratically-safe Fifth District, which currently covers Kansas City. The move would likely eliminate a Democratic seat in Missouri's congressional delegation.
A complex series of court rulings struck down the use of the map for the November election, reverting to the map approved in 2022 after the census. Now, voters will decide which map is used in the next election.
Official ballot title:
Do the people of the state of Missouri approve the act of the General Assembly entitled “House Bill No. 1 (2025 Second Extraordinary Session),” which repeals Missouri’s existing congressional plan, and replaces it with new congressional boundaries that keep more counties intact?
State and local governmental entities estimate no costs or savings.
Fair ballot language
A “yes” vote will approve the act of the General Assembly entitled “House Bill No. 1 (2025 Extraordinary Session),” which redraws the congressional district boundaries.
A “no” vote will leave in place the congressional district boundaries enacted in 2022.
If passed, this measure will have no impact on taxes.
