RELEASE: Jeff City Politicians Plot To End Majority Rule In 2024

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, November 29, 2023
Contact: kelli@progressmo.org

After failing to end majority rule in 2023, Missouri legislators pre-file legislation to dismantle the initiative petition process

Jefferson City, MO – Ahead of the 2024 Missouri legislative session, legislators have pre-filed nearly 20 bills aimed at dismantling the initiative petition process, making it harder for Missourians’ voices to be heard.

“The League of Women Voters believes responsible government should be responsive to the will of the people,” said Marilyn McLeod, President of the League of Women Voters. “The citizen initiative petition is the most direct form of voter participation in our democracy. This valuable and trusted process has been enshrined in the Missouri Constitution for more than 100 years and has been used for both conservative and progressive issues. It is already a complicated and difficult process. Therefore, the League of Women Voters of Missouri opposes any attempts to make it more difficult to get a measure on the ballot or to raise the threshold for approval.”

“Missouri’s initiative petition process represents the purest form of direct democracy. It is the way Missouri voters across the political spectrum can let their voices be heard,” said Denise Lieberman, Director and General Counsel at the Missouri Voter Protection Coalition. “Missourians overwhelmingly support the initiative petition process. These continued efforts by legislators to limit voter participation and freedom of speech is anti-American and undermines our democratic process.”

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