Respect Missouri Voters Submits 367,000 Signatures for Ballot Initiative

The Respect Missouri Voters coalition submitted more than 367,000 petition signatures to the Missouri Secretary of State's office on May 3, 2026. This effort, described as the largest volunteer-led signature gathering campaign in state history, involved nearly 2,000 volunteers across all 115 counties over 15 months. The proposed constitutional amendment seeks to protect the citizen initiative process by mandating unbiased ballot summaries and restricting the legislature's ability to repeal voter-approved laws without an 80 percent supermajority in both chambers.

The initiative follows recent legislative actions that rewrote voter-approved laws regarding minimum wage and paid sick leave. Coalition leaders characterize the movement as a bipartisan defense against legislative power grabs. Secretary of State Denny Hoskins must certify the signatures by August 4, 2026, while Governor Mike Kehoe holds the authority until late May to determine if the question appears on the August or November ballot.

The effort faces a competing proposal known as Amendment Four, introduced by Republican lawmakers. This alternative would require a majority of voters in every congressional district to approve constitutional amendments rather than a simple statewide majority. Supporters of Amendment Four argue this prevents urban centers from dictating state policy, while Respect Missouri Voters describes it as an attempt to undermine citizen rights.