Republican Missouri lawmakers are divided over a proposed constitutional amendment that would make it more difficult for future voters to amend the state constitution. The GOP-led House amended the measure to raise the vote threshold needed for all constitutional amendments, requiring a majority of votes in five of the state’s eight congressional districts in addition to a statewide majority. House lawmakers also added a provision to ban noncitizens from voting, setting up a potential clash with the GOP-led Senate.
In the Senate, Democrats had previously negotiated with Republicans to remove language stating that noncitizens cannot vote, but House Republicans decided to reintroduce this provision. House Majority Leader Jon Patterson acknowledged that this additional provision could jeopardize the passage of the amendment in the Senate, but stated that House members are willing to take that risk. Missouri Republicans have long sought to impose stricter limits on constitutional amendments, arguing that certain policies, such as the legalization of recreational marijuana, should not be decided through voter initiatives.
Republican Rep. Adam Schnelting defended the proposed amendment during House debates, asserting that the constitution should not be influenced by special interests, political parties, or out-of-state entities. However, House Democratic Minority Leader Crystal Quade expressed concerns that the measure would diminish citizens’ ability to hold the Legislature accountable through ballot initiatives. Quade highlighted previous uses of ballot initiatives by Missouri citizens to address issues such as Medicaid expansion, right to work, and marijuana legalization.
With advocates working to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot to restore abortion rights in Missouri, the GOP faces additional pressure this year. If the proposed constitutional changes are sent to the August ballot and approved by voters, the higher vote threshold would be in place for the November ballot, potentially impacting the outcome of the abortion-rights amendment. The debate over the proposed amendment reflects broader ideological divisions within the Missouri Legislature, with Republicans seeking to restrict the power of future voters in amending the state constitution, while Democrats are concerned about limiting citizens’ ability to hold elected officials accountable.
