The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for April 10, 2024

Today’s Script

(Variations occur with audio due to editing for time. Today’s Links below the script)

You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.

In the face of a reproductive rights ballot question later this year, Missouri’s legislature is the latest to try to game the system, making the passage of ballot initiatives harder, and taking power away from the voters.  

In August 2023, Ohio voters slapped down an attempt to raise the threshold to pass a ballot question from a 50%+1 majority, to 60%.  A reproductive rights question later passed in November with a 57% majority.

To defeat the Missouri Right to Reproductive Freedom Amendment, the Republican majority is using another tactic. Instead of raising the threshold percentage like Ohio, the SJR 74 constitutional amendment proposes changing the simple majority to a simple majority plus a majority in at least five of the state’s eight Congressional districts.  It passed the state senate in February, and will likely pass the state house this week.

Called a “consensus majority,” it would shift power to the state’s least populated and most conservative counties.   The Missouri Independent estimates a ballot question could be defeated with just 23% of the state’s voters voting against it.  If passed in the legislature, it’s expected to be added to the lower-turnout August 6th state primary ballot.  If passed by voters, it would be likely implemented prior to the November 5th general election.  

We have the language of the bill and more linked at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
BallotPedia –  Ohio 2023 ballot measures
BallotPedia – Missouri Right to Reproductive Freedom Amendment (2024)
Missouri Legislature – Text of SJR 74, Amended Version
Missouri Independent – Missouri Senate passes bill making it harder for voters to amend the constitution
Missouri Independent – As few as 1 in 5 voters could defeat initiative petitions under Missouri Senate proposal
Columbia Missourian – Initiative petition changes clear hurdle
BalltPedia – History of Initiative & Referendum in Missouri

Groups Taking Action:

League of Women Voters MO,  Missouri Voters for the Environment,  Missouri Conference of the NAACP, Empower Missouri,  PROMO

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The post Trying to Game the System, Missouri Legislature Proposes Ballot Question Rule Changes to Head Off Reproductive Rights Question in November appeared first on American Democracy Minute.