The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for Aug. 6, 2026
A ballot measure by the GOP-majority legislature to raise the bar for passing citizen ballot initiatives was overwhelmingly defeated in Missouri’s state primary Aug. 4th. The same day, a ballot measure for November’s ballot repealing the state’s partisan and racially-gerrymandered congressional maps was proclaimed unconstitutional by the Missouri secretary of state.
Missouri ballot measures require a simple 50%+1 majority statewide to pass, which activists recently used to enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution, bypassing the legislature. Amendment 4 would have required a simple majority in each of the state’s congressional districts, functionally ending citizen ballot initiatives as a tool for citizens. Missouri voters weren’t having it. The measure was defeated with an overwhelming and bipartisan 80.3% vote.
We reported in May that Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins was stone-walling approval of a proposed November citizen ballot initiative repealing the legislature’s partisan and racially gerrymandering congressional maps, which racially diluted the historically Black 5th District in Kansas City. The Missouri Independent reports that just hours before the polls closed August 4th, Hoskins pronounced the measure unconstitutional, saying citizen initiatives could not be used for redistricting. He also refused to confirm the measure’s qualifying signatures. The group behind the initiative, People Not Politicians, filed an immediate court challenge.
We’ve linked to local reporting at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
Missouri Independent – Missouri voters reject income tax phaseout, initiative petition changes
BallotPedia – Missouri Amendment 4, Require Congressional District Approval for Initiated Constitutional Amendments, Prohibit Foreign Contributions, and Penalize Petition Fraud Amendment (August 2026)
Missouri Independent – Missouri redistricting referendum blocked by secretary of state, drawing lawsuit
Gov. Mike Kehoe – Statement on Defeat of Missouri Amendment 4
Related ADM Reports:
American Democracy Minute – (2025) Missouri Legislature Passes New Gerrymandered Congressional Map with One More GOP Seat and Moves to Quash Future Citizen Ballot Initiatives
American Democracy Minute – (May) Missouri SOS Still Apparently Scheming to Derail November Ballot Initiative to Overturn New Gerrymandered Congressional Map Splitting Kansas City
American Democracy Minute – (January) Missouri Secretary of State Tactics Attempt to Derail Citizen Repeal of Gerrymandered Congressional Map
Groups Taking Action:
Register or Check Your Voter Registration:
U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State
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