Staff Report

Voters will decide on five statewide ballot measures in November: four amendments and one proposition.

Amendment 3

Amendment 3, if approved, would repeal the 2024 voter-approved amendment providing reproductive healthcare rights including abortion. Under the new measure, abortions would be prohibited except in cases of medical emergency, fetal anomaly, rape, and incest; abortions in cases of rape and incest would only be permitted through 12 weeks of gestation. The measure also would allow the legislature to regulate abortion healthcare providers and facilities.

According to the Missouri Independent, a member of the state’s newsroom, supporters say the proposed ban protects women facing medical emergencies and survivors of sexual assault. Critics question whether those protections would work in practice.

The ballot question reads: “Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to:

• Repeal the 2024 voter-approved Amendment providing reproductive healthcare rights, including abortion through fetal viability;

• Allow abortions for rape and incest (under twelve-weeks’ gestation), emergencies, and fetal anomalies;

• Allow legislation regulating abortion;

• Ensure parental consent for minors’ abortions;

• Prohibit gender transition procedures for minors?”

State governmental entities estimate no costs or savings.

Amendment 6

If passed, Amendment 6 would limit the legislature’s authority to repeal or modify laws and constitutional amendments initiated and approved by voters since 2010 and into the future.

The ballot question reads: “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.

Amendment 7

Amendment 7, if passed, would establish a permanent public endowment fund. The state legislature would invest it to earn enough interest to eventually replace taxes with earnings and couldn’t withdraw money for non-government purposes.

The ballot question reads: “Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to establish a permanent public endowment fund to support state government instead of taxing Missouri residents, prohibit the General Assembly from appropriating or diverting the fund, and eliminate state-imposed taxes once the fund generates sufficient revenue to replace them?”

State and local governmental entities estimate no costs or savings.

Amendment 8

If approved, Amendment 8, put on the ballot by the legislature, would add to the state constitution the authority of elected sheriffs in most counties to serve as the county’s chief law enforcement officer.

The ballot question reads: “Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to support law enforcement by preserving the right of citizens to elect a county sheriff, prohibiting the removal of a county sheriff except by a writ of quo warranto, and recognizing the office of sheriff as part of the administration of justice?”

State and local governmental entities estimate no costs or savings.

Proposition A

Proposition A asks voters whether to approve the 2025 congressional district map or keep the 2022 map.

The ballot reads: “Do the people of the state of Missouri approve the act of the General Assembly entitled ‘House Bill No. 1 (2025 Second Extraordinary Session),’ which repeals Missouri’s existing congressional plan, and replaces it with new congressional boundaries that keep more counties intact?”

State and local governmental entities estimate no costs or savings.

A “yes” vote will approve redrawing the congressional district boundaries.

A “no” vote will leave in place the congressional district boundaries enacted in 2022.