Citizen Initiatives

Missourians have reserved the power to propose and enact or reject laws and constitutional amendments.

Article III, Section 49 or the Missouri Constitution reserves the initiative power to the people, independent of the General Assembly. It also reserves the referendum power to approve or reject legislation enacted by the General Assembly.

Put plainly, the initiative petition process empowers Missouri voters to write and pass laws without going through the politicians.

From an idea to a statewide vote

  1. Write the proposal. A petition may propose a state statute or an amendment to the Missouri Constitution.

  2. Submit the proposal for official review. State officials review the form and prepare the official ballot title and fiscal information under Missouri law.

  3. Gather signatures. Under Article III, Section 50, a constitutional amendment requires signatures equal to 8 percent of legal voters in each of two-thirds of Missouri’s congressional districts (at least 6 out of 8 currently). A statutory initiative requires 5 percent in each of two-thirds of the districts.

  4. Submit the petition. The Constitution requires signed petitions for an initiative to be filed with the Secretary of State at least six months before the election at which that are to be voted on.

  5. Verify the signatures. Election authorities and the Secretary of State determine whether the petition has enough valid signatures and satisfies other legal requirements.

  6. Let voters decide. If the measure qualifies for the ballot, Missouri voters cast their votes at the designated election.

What rules apply to the proposal itself?

An initiative petition must include the full text of the proposed statute or amendment and follows Missouri’s one-subject and other constitutional requirements. A proposal may not be used to appropriate money except for new revenues created and provided for by the initiative or to perform certain judicial functions.

A right Missouri voters added to the Constitution

Missouri voters added the initiative and referendum power to the state Constitutional on November 3, 1908. The first initiative petitions were filed in 1910. Since then, citizens have used the process to place public questions directly before voters.