Missouri lawmakers act fast on citizen access to the ballot
By SUMMER BALLENTINE
Associated Press
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri lawmakers are moving fast to put more restrictions on citizens amending the state constitution. House members debated numerous Republican-sponsored bills to crack down on initiative petitions during one of the session’s first hearings Tuesday. Many of the proposals would make it harder for citizens to put measures to a public vote as well as increase the percentage of votes needed to enact citizen-led constitutional amendments. Currently, signatures from 8% of voters in six of Missouri’s eight congressional districts are needed to put a proposed constitutional change on the ballot. Voters can enact constitutional amendments by a simple majority.