How Amendment 6 got on the ballot

February 2025

The Amendment 6 campaign starts to gather signatures.

May 3, 2026

Respect Missouri Voters submits 367,741 signatures from all 114 Missouri counties and the City of St. Louis to the Secretary of State's Office. Secretary of State Denny Hoskins has until 5 p.m. Aug. 4 to certify the signatures.

Aug. 4, 2026

An hour before the deadline, Secretary of State Denny Hoskins rejects the initiative petition, claiming it is unconstitutional and that the ballot title he approved violated the single-subject rule.

Aug. 6, 2026

Respect Missouri Voters files a lawsuit with the Cole County courts challenging Hoskins' decision, claiming the initiative fully complies with all requirements of the Missouri Constitution, including the one-subject rule. Lawsuit asks court to reverse Hoskins' decision and put Amendment 6 on the ballot.

Aug. 7, 2026

Supporters of Amendment 6 hold rally in Jefferson City.

Aug. 18, 2026

Cole County judge hears arguments on lawsuit. Hoskins admitted in a court filing that the petition was signed by at least 8% of voters in two-thirds of Missouri's congressional districts, the requirement for an initiative petition to get on the ballot.

Aug. 19, 2026

Cole County Judge Daniel Green rules that Denny Hoskins was right to reject the Amendment 6 initiative petition. He stated it was overly broad, violated the single-subject rule, and violated the U.S. Constitution by limiting people's ability to reconsider already approved laws. This same day, plaintiffs filed a notice of appeal to the Missouri Supreme Court. 

Sept. 2, 2026

Missouri Supreme Court hears arguments on Amendment 6.

Sept. 3, 2026

Missouri Supreme Court unanimously agrees with Respect Missouri Voters to put Amendment 6 on the ballot, claiming Hoskins did not have the authority to reject the group's petition.

Sept. 8, 2026

Hoskins certifies the certificate of sufficiency.