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Laws governing ballot measures in Missouri
From Ballotpedia
This page provides an overview of resources addressing the laws and procedures that govern statewide and local ballot measures in Missouri, including the initiative and referendum process, constitutional amendments, signature requirements, recall procedures, and campaign finance regulations.
Explore the links below for more information:
- Types of ballot measures in Missouri
- Laws governing the initiative process in Missouri
- Amending the Missouri Constitution
- Laws governing local ballot measures in Missouri
- Signature requirements for ballot measures in Missouri
- Laws governing recall in Missouri
- Laws governing state constitutional conventions in Missouri
- Campaign finance requirements for Missouri ballot measures
- Changes to laws governing ballot measures in Missouri
Laws governing ballot measures in Missouri
Types of ballot measures in Missouri
- Missouri has three types of citizen-initiated ballot measures: initiated constitutional amendments, initiated state statutes, and veto referendums.
- In Missouri, the legislature can refer constitutional amendments and state statutes to the ballot.
Laws governing the initiative process in Missouri
- In Missouri, citizens have the power to initiate state statutes or constitutional amendments, as well as the power to repeal legislation through veto referendums.
- Missouri adopted the initiative and referendum process in 1907, with voter approval of Amendment 3.
- From 2010 to 2024, voters decided on 22 ballot initiatives in Missouri.
Amending the Missouri Constitution
- Missouri became a state in 1821. The current state constitution was ratified in 1945.
- The Missouri Constitution can be amended in three ways:
- Legislatively referred constitutional amendment: The state Legislature can refer constitutional amendments to the ballot, with a simple majority vote in each legislative chamber.
- Initiated constitutional amendment: Citizens can initiate constitutional amendments in Missouri
.
- Convention-referred constitutional amendment: A state constitutional convention can vote to refer constitutional changes to the ballot.
- According to Section 3a of Article XII of the Missouri Constitution, a question about whether to hold a state constitutional convention is to automatically appear on the state's ballot every 20 years starting in 1942. Missouri is one of 14 states that provides for an automatic constitutional convention question.
- Convention-referred constitutional amendment: A state constitutional convention can vote to refer constitutional changes to the ballot.
Laws governing local ballot measures in Missouri
- Article VI of the Missouri Constitution provides for initiative and referendum at the local level.
Signature requirements for ballot measures in Missouri
- In Missouri, the number of signatures required for ballot initiatives is tied to the number of votes cast in the preceding gubernatorial election.
- An initiated constitutional amendment requires a number of signatures equal to 8% of the votes cast for governor.
- An initiated state statute or veto referendum requires a number of signatures equal to 5% of the votes cast for governor.
- Signatures for initiated amendments and initiated statutes must be submitted six months before the election.
Laws governing recall in Missouri
- Missouri law does not provide for the recall of state officials.
- Elected officials in third-class cities may be subject to recall. The Missouri Revisor of Statutes defines third-class cities as cities and towns with populations exceeding 3,000. Cities with their own charters may also permit the recall of their elected officials.
Laws governing state constitutional conventions in Missouri
- According to Section 3a of Article XII of the Missouri Constitution, a question about whether to hold a state constitutional convention is to automatically appear on the state's ballot every 20 years starting in 1942. Missouri is one of 14 states that provides for an automatic constitutional convention question.
Campaign finance requirements for Missouri ballot measures
- In Missouri, a group whose "sole purpose" is to support or oppose a ballot measure is considered a campaign committee. The committee must register a statement of organization with the Missouri Ethics Commission within 20 days of forming the committee.
Changes to laws governing ballot measures in Missouri
2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
- House Joint Resolution 3: The constitutional amendment was designed to require voter approval of citizen-initiated constitutional amendments in each congressional district, rather than statewide; add language prohibiting foreign nationals and foreign adversaries, as defined, from spending to support or oppose ballot measures, with penalties for violations; and add language regarding penalties for ballot initiative signature petition fraud, among other changes.[1]
| SB 22 Vote | Senate | House | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | No | NV | Yes | No | NV | |
| Total | 21 | 11 | 2 | 98 | 58 | 3 |
| Democratic (D) | 0 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 52 | 0 |
| Republican (R) | 21 | 2 | 1 | 98 | 6 | 3 |
- Senate Bill 22: The legislation extends timeline for final rulings on ballot measure challenges from 56 to 70 days prior to the election; increases the word limit for ballot summaries for legislative referrals from 50 to 100 words; allows signature collection to begin after ballot language is certified even if the title is challenged and provides that signatures collected before a ballot title is altered may not be invalidated.[2]
| SB 22 Vote | Senate | House | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | No | NV | Yes | No | NV | |
| Total | 24 | 10 | 0 | 109 | 46 | 7 |
| Democratic (D) | 0 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 45 | 7 |
| Republican (R) | 24 | 0 | 0 | 108 | 1 | 0 |
- Senate Bill 152: The legislation prohibits ballot measure committees from using funds from foreign nationals for preliminary campaign activities and from accepting contributions or in-kind support from foreign nationals or from individuals or entities that received such contributions. It would also require donors contributing over $2,000 to certify that they are not foreign nationals and have not received more than $10,000 from foreign nationals within a four-year period.[3]
| SB 152 Vote | Senate | House | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | No | NV | Yes | No | NV | |
| Total | 28 | 2 | 4 | 94 | 47 | 20 |
| Democratic (D) | 6 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 47 | 5 |
| Republican (R) | 22 | 0 | 2 | 94 | 0 | 15 |
See also
Footnotes
