Missouri ballot questions reignite issues decided by voters
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A number of ballot questions may look familiar to Missouri voters who already had their say on the issues at hand.
Why it matters: Voters will decide on abortion access, state taxes, which congressional map to use going forward and more in the November election.
- Here's a breakdown of each question in Missouri and Kansas.
Missouri
🗳️ Amendment 3 asks if voters want to repeal the reproductive care and abortion rights that voters passed in 2024, 52% to 48%.
- A yes vote would allow abortions in cases of rape and incest up to 12 weeks, and give the legislature the ability to add more regulations.
- It would also prohibit gender transition procedures for minors, which are already illegal.
- Proponents say the amendment is about protecting children, while opponents say Republicans are using transgender non-issues to strip previously enshrined reproductive rights.
🗳️ Amendment 6 would make it harder for the legislature to contest citizen ballot initiatives and prohibit politicians from weakening the process.
- Both chambers would need 80% or more approval to override or alter laws passed by the initiative process, which would likely involve Democratic support.
- Proponents say it's about letting the people choose and point to battles over congressional districts, minimum wage and reproductive rights. Opponents argue it impairs lawmakers' ability to make corrections.
🗳️ Amendment 7 brings back eliminating state taxes, this time through a permanent public endowment fund that would invest tax dollars in the stock market and use the gains to offset tax revenue decades from now.
- Voters in August defeated an amendment that sought to eliminate state income tax, 83% to 17%.
- Proponents say it would create future fiscal stability, while opponents say it would divert public funds at a time when the state is already facing budget shortfalls.
🗳️ Amendment 8 makes a county sheriff an elected position, with exceptions in the St. Louis area, and gives the attorney general the sole ability to remove a sheriff from office.
- Proponents say it would improve accountability and keep recall efforts out of local politics. Opponents say it would take away local control.
🗳️ Proposition A asks if voters approve House Bill 1, which would replace the 2022 congressional district map with the 2025 map legislators passed in a special session.
- Voters behind a citizen referendum to overturn HB1 ultimately won the right to put the map on the ballot after a lengthy court battle, reverting voters to the previous map.
Kansas
🗳️ The Citizenship Voting Requirement Amendment would tweak the language of the state's constitution to say that no one can vote unless they're a U.S. citizen, at least 18 and a resident in their voting area.
- Kansas' constitution already says citizens can vote, but it does not specify that noncitizens cannot.
- Proponents say it enforces the rules. Opponents call it "ballot candy" that could lead to stricter voting laws later.