{ "title": "Missouri Republican Accountability Questions", "subtitle": "Questions tied to statewide Missouri ballot measures and recent statewide elections", "lastUpdated": "2026-09-23", "description": "A focused accountability resource based on statewide Missouri measures on the November 2026 ballot, plus closely related statewide measures from the August 2026 primary.", "questions": [ { "id": 1, "category": "Amendment 3 — Abortion & Gender-Transition Restrictions", "measure": "Amendment 3", "status": "upcoming", "election": "2026-11-03", "question": "Why should Missouri voters repeal the reproductive-rights protections they approved in 2024?", "context": "Amendment 3 would repeal the 2024 constitutional provision protecting reproductive health care, including abortion through fetal viability, and replace it with more restrictive rules.", "followUp": "What specific problem created by the 2024 amendment requires this constitutional change?", "sources": [ { "title": "Missouri Secretary of State — 2026 Ballot Measures", "url": "https://www.sos.mo.gov/petitions/2026BallotMeasures" } ] }, { "id": 2, "category": "Amendment 3 — Abortion & Gender-Transition Restrictions", "measure": "Amendment 3", "status": "upcoming", "election": "2026-11-03", "question": "Who should decide whether a pregnancy can be legally terminated when a physician and the government disagree?", "context": "Amendment 3 would allow restrictions on abortion and establish constitutional rules concerning medical emergencies, rape, incest and fetal anomalies.", "followUp": "What should a doctor be legally permitted to do when delaying care could endanger the patient's health?", "sources": [ { "title": "Missouri Secretary of State — Amendment 3", "url": "https://www.sos.mo.gov/petitions/2026BallotMeasures" } ] }, { "id": 3, "category": "Amendment 3 — Abortion & Gender-Transition Restrictions", "measure": "Amendment 3", "status": "upcoming", "election": "2026-11-03", "question": "Why should the Constitution impose a 12-week limit on abortion in cases of rape or incest?", "context": "The official ballot language permits abortion for rape and incest under twelve weeks' gestation, subject to the amendment's requirements.", "followUp": "What should happen when a survivor discovers the pregnancy after twelve weeks?", "sources": [ { "title": "Missouri Secretary of State — Amendment 3", "url": "https://www.sos.mo.gov/petitions/2026BallotMeasures" } ] }, { "id": 4, "category": "Amendment 3 — Abortion & Gender-Transition Restrictions", "measure": "Amendment 3", "status": "upcoming", "election": "2026-11-03", "question": "Why combine abortion restrictions and restrictions on gender-transition procedures for minors in the same constitutional amendment?", "context": "Amendment 3 addresses both abortion and gender-transition procedures for minors.", "followUp": "What is the policy reason for putting these two subjects into one constitutional amendment?", "sources": [ { "title": "Missouri Secretary of State — Amendment 3", "url": "https://www.sos.mo.gov/petitions/2026BallotMeasures" } ] }, { "id": 5, "category": "Amendment 3 — Abortion & Gender-Transition Restrictions", "measure": "Amendment 3", "status": "upcoming", "election": "2026-11-03", "question": "What evidence shows that constitutionalizing these medical restrictions will produce better outcomes than leaving medical decisions primarily to patients and physicians?", "context": "Amendment 3 would place detailed medical-policy restrictions in the Missouri Constitution.", "followUp": "What measurable outcome would demonstrate that the constitutional change worked?", "sources": [ { "title": "Missouri Secretary of State — Amendment 3", "url": "https://www.sos.mo.gov/petitions/2026BallotMeasures" } ] }, { "id": 6, "category": "Amendment 6 — Initiative & Referendum Rights", "measure": "Amendment 6", "status": "upcoming", "election": "2026-11-03", "question": "Why should the Legislature be able to change a law that Missouri voters enacted directly?", "context": "Amendment 6 would require approval from at least 80% of both legislative chambers before the Legislature could directly change or repeal laws enacted through the initiative process, with the proposed change then referred to voters.", "followUp": "If voters approved a law directly, what circumstances justify lawmakers overriding it?", "sources": [ { "title": "Missouri Secretary of State — Amendment 6", "url": "https://www.sos.mo.gov/petitions/2026BallotMeasures" } ] }, { "id": 7, "category": "Amendment 6 — Initiative & Referendum Rights", "measure": "Amendment 6", "status": "upcoming", "election": "2026-11-03", "question": "Why should lawmakers be able to weaken the initiative process after voters have used it to enact policies they oppose?", "context": "Amendment 6 would prohibit the Legislature from changing or repealing initiative-enacted laws without the specified 80% threshold and voter approval.", "followUp": "Would you support the same protections if an initiative enacted a policy you personally opposed?", "sources": [ { "title": "Missouri Secretary of State — Amendment 6", "url": "https://www.sos.mo.gov/petitions/2026BallotMeasures" } ] }, { "id": 8, "category": "Amendment 6 — Initiative & Referendum Rights", "measure": "Amendment 6", "status": "upcoming", "election": "2026-11-03", "question": "Why should the Legislature be allowed to pass a substantially similar law after voters rejected a referendum?", "context": "Amendment 6 would restrict the Legislature from passing laws similar to those rejected by referendum without the specified constitutional approval process.", "followUp": "What should prevent lawmakers from simply reenacting a policy voters rejected?", "sources": [ { "title": "Missouri Secretary of State — Amendment 6", "url": "https://www.sos.mo.gov/petitions/2026BallotMeasures" } ] }, { "id": 9, "category": "Amendment 6 — Initiative & Referendum Rights", "measure": "Amendment 6", "status": "upcoming", "election": "2026-11-03", "question": "Should a simple statewide majority remain sufficient for voters to approve a constitutional initiative?", "context": "Amendment 6 preserves the existing statewide-majority requirement while expanding protections for the initiative and referendum process.", "followUp": "If not, what additional voting threshold should apply and why?", "sources": [ { "title": "Missouri Secretary of State — Amendment 6", "url": "https://www.sos.mo.gov/petitions/2026BallotMeasures" } ] }, { "id": 10, "category": "Amendment 6 — Initiative & Referendum Rights", "measure": "Amendment 6", "status": "upcoming", "election": "2026-11-03", "question": "Why should courts be allowed to revise ballot summaries through lawsuits before voters decide an initiative?", "context": "Amendment 6 would make the initiative and referendum process a fundamental right and allow courts to revise ballot summaries through litigation.", "followUp": "What standard should courts use when deciding whether a ballot summary is misleading?", "sources": [ { "title": "Missouri Secretary of State — Amendment 6", "url": "https://www.sos.mo.gov/petitions/2026BallotMeasures" } ] }, { "id": 11, "category": "Amendment 7 — Show-Me Prosperity Fund", "measure": "Amendment 7", "status": "upcoming", "election": "2026-11-03", "question": "Why should Missouri replace dependable tax revenue with investment earnings from a permanent state fund?", "context": "Amendment 7 would create the Show-Me Prosperity Fund and establish a long-term goal of using its investment earnings to support state government and eventually eliminate state-imposed taxes.", "followUp": "What makes investment returns a reliable substitute for tax revenue?", "sources": [ { "title": "Missouri Secretary of State — Amendment 7", "url": "https://www.sos.mo.gov/petitions/2026BallotMeasures" } ] }, { "id": 12, "category": "Amendment 7 — Show-Me Prosperity Fund", "measure": "Amendment 7", "status": "upcoming", "election": "2026-11-03", "question": "How large would the Show-Me Prosperity Fund have to become before state-imposed taxes could actually be eliminated?", "context": "The amendment would allow tax elimination only after the State Treasurer determines that net investment earnings are sufficient to replace state-imposed taxes without impairing the real value of the fund's principal.", "followUp": "What fund balance and investment-return assumptions are required to reach that point?", "sources": [ { "title": "Missouri Secretary of State — Amendment 7", "url": "https://www.sos.mo.gov/petitions/2026BallotMeasures" } ] }, { "id": 13, "category": "Amendment 7 — Show-Me Prosperity Fund", "measure": "Amendment 7", "status": "upcoming", "election": "2026-11-03", "question": "What happens to schools, health care and infrastructure if the fund underperforms for several years?", "context": "Amendment 7 caps annual appropriations from the fund at 3% of its average market value over the preceding five fiscal years and provides that the General Assembly retains other revenue authority if the fund cannot meet obligations.", "followUp": "Which services would you cut first if investment earnings were insufficient?", "sources": [ { "title": "Missouri Secretary of State — Amendment 7", "url": "https://www.sos.mo.gov/petitions/2026BallotMeasures" } ] }, { "id": 14, "category": "Amendment 7 — Show-Me Prosperity Fund", "measure": "Amendment 7", "status": "upcoming", "election": "2026-11-03", "question": "Why should the Missouri Constitution permanently restrict the Legislature from appropriating or diverting the fund's principal?", "context": "Amendment 7 would establish constitutional restrictions on the use of the fund until specified conditions are met.", "followUp": "What future circumstances could justify changing those restrictions?", "sources": [ { "title": "Missouri Secretary of State — Amendment 7", "url": "https://www.sos.mo.gov/petitions/2026BallotMeasures" } ] }, { "id": 15, "category": "Amendment 7 — Show-Me Prosperity Fund", "measure": "Amendment 7", "status": "upcoming", "election": "2026-11-03", "question": "If the fund fails to generate enough revenue, why should taxpayers trust that essential services will not be forced into cuts?", "context": "The amendment anticipates the possibility of insolvency, revenue shortfall or program failure and preserves legislative authority to raise other revenue in those circumstances.", "followUp": "What specific backstop would protect essential services during a prolonged market downturn?", "sources": [ { "title": "Missouri Secretary of State — Amendment 7", "url": "https://www.sos.mo.gov/petitions/2026BallotMeasures" } ] }, { "id": 16, "category": "Amendment 8 — County Sheriffs", "measure": "Amendment 8", "status": "upcoming", "election": "2026-11-03", "question": "Why should a Missouri sheriff be removable from office only through a quo warranto action initiated by the Attorney General?", "context": "Amendment 8 would put sheriffs in the Constitution and provide that an elected sheriff may be removed only through a writ of quo warranto initiated by the Attorney General.", "followUp": "Why should the Attorney General have the exclusive role in initiating removal proceedings?", "sources": [ { "title": "Missouri Secretary of State — Amendment 8", "url": "https://www.sos.mo.gov/petitions/2026BallotMeasures" } ] }, { "id": 17, "category": "Amendment 8 — County Sheriffs", "measure": "Amendment 8", "status": "upcoming", "election": "2026-11-03", "question": "What happens when a locally elected sheriff is accused of serious misconduct but the Attorney General declines to pursue removal?", "context": "The amendment would limit removal of an elected sheriff to a quo warranto proceeding initiated by the Attorney General.", "followUp": "What independent mechanism should remain available to hold a sheriff accountable?", "sources": [ { "title": "Missouri Secretary of State — Amendment 8", "url": "https://www.sos.mo.gov/petitions/2026BallotMeasures" } ] }, { "id": 18, "category": "Amendment 8 — County Sheriffs", "measure": "Amendment 8", "status": "upcoming", "election": "2026-11-03", "question": "Why put duties that already exist in state statute into the Missouri Constitution?", "context": "The official ballot language says Amendment 8 would place constitutional provisions concerning sheriffs' election, duties and removal that are currently provided by statute.", "followUp": "What problem with the existing statutory system requires constitutional protection?", "sources": [ { "title": "Missouri Secretary of State — Amendment 8", "url": "https://www.sos.mo.gov/petitions/2026BallotMeasures" } ] }, { "id": 19, "category": "Amendment 8 — County Sheriffs", "measure": "Amendment 8", "status": "upcoming", "election": "2026-11-03", "question": "Would you support the same restriction on removal if the Attorney General belonged to the opposing political party?", "context": "Amendment 8 would give the Attorney General the exclusive authority to initiate the specified removal action.", "followUp": "What neutral principle justifies that concentration of authority regardless of who holds the office?", "sources": [ { "title": "Missouri Secretary of State — Amendment 8", "url": "https://www.sos.mo.gov/petitions/2026BallotMeasures" } ] }, { "id": 20, "category": "Proposition A — Congressional Redistricting", "measure": "Proposition A", "status": "upcoming", "election": "2026-11-03", "question": "Why did Missouri redraw its congressional districts in the middle of the decade rather than wait for the normal redistricting cycle?", "context": "Proposition A asks voters whether to approve House Bill 1 from the 2025 Second Extraordinary Session, which replaced the 2022 congressional plan with new boundaries.", "followUp": "What problem with the existing map required an extraordinary mid-decade redistricting?", "sources": [ { "title": "Missouri Secretary of State — Proposition A", "url": "https://www.sos.mo.gov/petitions/2026BallotMeasures" } ] }, { "id": 21, "category": "Proposition A — Congressional Redistricting", "measure": "Proposition A", "status": "upcoming", "election": "2026-11-03", "question": "What evidence shows that the new congressional map was drawn primarily to keep counties intact rather than to change partisan representation?", "context": "The official ballot title describes the new boundaries as keeping more counties intact. Critics have argued that the map was designed to alter partisan representation, particularly in the Kansas City area.", "followUp": "What objective, nonpartisan criteria were used to evaluate the map before it was passed?", "sources": [ { "title": "Missouri Secretary of State — Proposition A", "url": "https://www.sos.mo.gov/petitions/2026BallotMeasures" } ] }, { "id": 22, "category": "Proposition A — Congressional Redistricting", "measure": "Proposition A", "status": "upcoming", "election": "2026-11-03", "question": "Would you support the same mid-decade redistricting process if Democrats controlled the Missouri Legislature and used it to gain congressional seats?", "context": "This question tests whether the principle being defended is about redistricting standards or which party benefits from the map.", "followUp": "What rule should apply regardless of which party controls Jefferson City?", "sources": [ { "title": "Missouri Secretary of State — Proposition A", "url": "https://www.sos.mo.gov/petitions/2026BallotMeasures" } ] }, { "id": 23, "category": "Proposition A — Congressional Redistricting", "measure": "Proposition A", "status": "upcoming", "election": "2026-11-03", "question": "Should elected officials be allowed to redraw congressional districts specifically to improve their party's chances of winning seats?", "context": "Proposition A is a referendum on a congressional map enacted by the General Assembly during a 2025 extraordinary session.", "followUp": "If not, what independent standard should prevent partisan map-drawing?", "sources": [ { "title": "Missouri Secretary of State — Proposition A", "url": "https://www.sos.mo.gov/petitions/2026BallotMeasures" } ] }, { "id": 24, "category": "Proposition A — Congressional Redistricting", "measure": "Proposition A", "status": "upcoming", "election": "2026-11-03", "question": "What should matter more when drawing congressional districts: keeping counties whole, keeping communities together, or maximizing partisan advantage?", "context": "The official ballot title emphasizes keeping more counties intact, while the political debate has focused heavily on the partisan consequences of the new map.", "followUp": "Rank the criteria you believe should control redistricting and explain why.", "sources": [ { "title": "Missouri Secretary of State — Proposition A", "url": "https://www.sos.mo.gov/petitions/2026BallotMeasures" } ] }, { "id": 25, "category": "Recent 2026 Statewide Measures", "measure": "Amendment 4", "status": "historical", "election": "2026-08-04", "result": "failed", "question": "Why did Missouri legislators propose changing the constitutional initiative process so that a statewide majority would no longer be sufficient?", "context": "Amendment 4 appeared on the August 4, 2026 primary ballot. It would have required a majority of voters in each congressional district to approve a constitutional initiative. The measure failed.", "followUp": "What problem with the existing statewide-majority rule was this proposal intended to solve?", "sources": [ { "title": "Missouri Secretary of State — 2026 Ballot Measures", "url": "https://www.sos.mo.gov/petitions/2026BallotMeasures" } ] }, { "id": 26, "category": "Recent 2026 Statewide Measures", "measure": "Amendment 5", "status": "historical", "election": "2026-08-04", "result": "failed", "question": "Why did Missouri legislators propose constitutionally phasing out the individual income tax while authorizing broader sales and use taxes?", "context": "Amendment 5 appeared on the August 4, 2026 primary ballot. It would have required legislative phase-out of the individual state income tax based on revenue growth and authorized expansion of sales and use taxes. The measure failed.", "followUp": "What evidence supported the claim that this tax shift would benefit Missouri taxpayers overall?", "sources": [ { "title": "Missouri Secretary of State — 2026 Ballot Measures", "url": "https://www.sos.mo.gov/petitions/2026BallotMeasures" } ] } ], "categories": [ "Amendment 3 — Abortion & Gender-Transition Restrictions", "Amendment 6 — Initiative & Referendum Rights", "Amendment 7 — Show-Me Prosperity Fund", "Amendment 8 — County Sheriffs", "Proposition A — Congressional Redistricting", "Recent 2026 Statewide Measures" ], "currentBallot": [ { "measure": "Amendment 3", "jcpPosition": "Vote NO" }, { "measure": "Amendment 6", "jcpPosition": "Vote YES" }, { "measure": "Amendment 7", "jcpPosition": "Vote NO" }, { "measure": "Amendment 8", "jcpPosition": "Vote NO" }, { "measure": "Proposition A", "jcpPosition": "Vote NO" } ], "historicalMeasures": [ { "measure": "Amendment 4", "election": "2026-08-04", "result": "failed" }, { "measure": "Amendment 5", "election": "2026-08-04", "result": "failed" } ] }