Missouri voters to decide on statewide constitutional convention

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

Every 20 years, the same question appears on the Missouri ballots: "Shall there be a convention to revise and amend the constitution?"

On Nov. 8, Missouri voters will decide if a group of bipartisan leaders should be called to decide on a new constitution for the state, otherwise known as a constitutional convention.

If passed, the bipartisan group of delegates could decide on anything to the constitution. It would later be brought to another vote by the general public.

"We would have a clean slate for the delegates to that constitutional convention. They could say we're not going to do anything. They could propose one or two amendments, nibble around the edges. They could completely rewrite the Missouri Constitution," Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft said.

The constitutional convention question is part of the Missouri constitution. It was added as an amendment in the early 20th century.

The Missouri Constitution has been rewritten five times since the state's original constitution was created in 1820. The most recent constitutional convention was held in 1942 to create the 1945 constitution Missouri currently operates under.

Since then, voters have not decided to hold another convention but have added 119 amendments. There are four more amendments up for a vote this year: Investing state funds, legalizing marijuana, funding for Kansas City Police and the National Guard possibly changing departments. The current state constitution is 10 times longer than the United States Constitution.

In the instance that the constitutional convention question passes, delegates could address the proposed amendments or many other controversial topics the state has faced recently. In the past year, common topics in Missouri politics include gun control, abortion access and oversight in public schools. Any of these topics could be up for discussion at a constitutional convention.