CROSS PARTISAN COALITION FIGHTING FOR EVERY VOTER
We are a grassroots, volunteer-led campaign working to preserve the citizen led initiative petition process and make our government work for everyday Missourians. We’re building a more ethical, effective government of, by, and for the people and we need your help!
Our Mission
For years, politicians and special interests have tried to trick voters with confusing ballot language to sway our votes. They’ve also passed laws to overturn measures passed by the people of Missouri, and to take away the freedom to petition from voters.
We won’t let politicians decide our state’s future. Our purpose is to ensure a government of, by, and for the people—not for the politicians. Our organization town halls across the state where 1,000 Missourians gathered to make their voices heard.
Missourians want to safeguard our right to use the initiative process, and we want clear and accurate ballot language. That’s what’s our initiative petition will do.
What is an Initiative Petition?
Citizen initiative, ballot measure, initiative petition - these all mean the same thing.
When politicians ignore what Missouri families want, citizen-led petitions let voters take a stand and vote for change ourselves.
It's largely 3 big steps
1) Write an amendment or law
2) Gather enough signatures from voters (around 300,000) to qualify for the ballot
3) Vote YES to pass the amendment or law
In our case, it will be a state constitutional amendment and it will be on the ballot in 2026.
Do you have more questions? See our FAQs here.
Our Timeline
Ballot Summary Language
Once we gather 300,000 signatures across the state, this is what will appear on the 2026 ballot:
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
Ballot Language Explained
The Respect Missouri Voters Amendment will secure our century-old constitutional freedom of the initiative, require ballot language to be clear and unbiased, and prevent partisan attacks on measures that the people have voted into law.
Together, our cross-partisan coalition’s ballot initiative will:
Require ballot summaries to be clear, unbiased, fair, accurate, and easy to understand.
Allows voters to understand exactly what they’re voting on.
Prohibits partisan politicians from deliberately using misleading ballot language to trick voters.
Preserve our century-old constitutional freedom to petition.
Ensures citizens have the ability to be a check and balance on the legislature when they ignore our voices.
Prohibits new laws making it more difficult for citizens to gather signatures or pass initiatives at the ballot box.
Guarantees that this right exists for future generations of Missourians.
Make it harder for politicians to change or undo what the people have already voted on.
Defends majority rule by requiring support from both parties to send any changes back to a vote of the people — 80% approval in both chambers.
Ensures voters have the final say.
Does NOT apply to any measures placed on the ballot by the legislature, which often have deceptive language.
Learn more about our proposed amendment by watching our November Policy Webinar:
Will you sign to put this on the ballot to ensure:
all ballot measures have clear and fair ballot language
defend majority rule by requiring support from both parties, and
preserve our 117-year-old freedom?