ST. JOSEPH. MO (News-Press NOW) — A sweeping new law set to take effect Thursday, Aug. 28, will reshape how Missourians bring issues directly to the ballot.
Citizens use the Initiative Petition process to put new laws or constitutional amendments directly on the ballot by gathering signatures.
It’s been used in Missouri for over 100 years, allowing voters to bypass the legislature and place issues directly on the ballot.
Recent examples of this include medicaid expansion, abortion access and medical marijuana legalization.
Senate Bill 22, passed by Missouri lawmakers earlier this year and signed by Governor Mike Parson, introduces a series of changes to the state’s Initiative Petition process, altering everything from who writes the official ballot language to when and how legal challenges can be filed.
Supporters of the bill acknowledge the changes will provide greater consistency and fairness. However, critics warn it could undermine democracy by making it harder for grassroots organizations to bring issues before voters.
Ballot summary responsibility
One of the most significant shifts under Senate Bill 22 is who will write the summary language appearing on ballots, a key piece of information that can shape how voters perceive an issue.
Previously, the Missouri Secretary of State was responsible for writing the short summary that appears on ballots to explain what a proposed measure does.
State Representative Dean Van Schoiack (R-Savannah), who represents part of Buchanan County, said the change is about “putting power back in the hands of the elected General Assembly, rather than relying solely on one state office to control how issues are worded for voters.”
I think the changes made here allow for the Secretary of State to do his job correctly,” VanSchoiack said.
Under the new law, when the legislature itself refers an issue to the ballot, lawmakers will now write the summary language instead. The Secretary of State will continue to write summaries for citizen-led petitions.
Disagreers of the bill, including David Jones, the vice president for the St. Joseph National Education Association (NEA), argue that it gives more power to officials and not the will of the people.
“It’s important that when we do any initiatives that are going to go to the vote for the voters, that’s worded clearly,” Jones said.
Longer ballot summaries
In the past, anyone who disagreed with the wording of a ballot summary had 10 days after certification to challenge it. Courts also had the authority to rewrite summaries if they found the wording biased.
Now, legal challenges and court fights over how a ballot question is worded must be filed by the 22nd Tuesday before the general election. Around 154 days ahead of time.
Any court battles over ballot wording must be fully resolved at least 70 days before the election. Additionally, courts must wait for the Secretary of State to attempt up to three rewrites before stepping in.
“It doesn’t change what’s in the petition or the resolution or whatever,” VanSchoiack said. “It just gives a chance for the ballot language to change.”
But critics, including several voter advocacy groups, express that these new hurdles will make it harder for ordinary citizens to hold the government accountable, especially if ballot summaries are drafted in a way that favors one side.
“It would be harder for organizations to challenge ballot initiatives that are worded improperly, Jones said.
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