For Immediate Release:  Aug. 17, 2023

Contact: Sophia Shore, (573) 751-2173

Sen. Carter Urges Governor to Call Special Session on IP Reform to Protect Missouri’s Constitution Using Concurrent Majority Ratification

JEFFERSON CITY — On Thursday, Aug. 17, Sen. Jill Carter, R-Granby, sent a letter to the governor urging him to call members of the Missouri Senate and House of Representatives back to the State Capitol for a special session to focus solely on Initiative Petition (IP) Reform, reforming the standards by which the Missouri Constitution is altered or replaced. 

Constitutional amendments currently require the approval of a simple majority of voters. Senator Carter believes the current standards allow well-funded, out-of-state special interest groups to change the Constitution without securing broad consensus from across Missouri.  

“I believe the Missouri Constitution is a sacred document and should not be amended lightly. It must be protected from out-of-state special interests,” said Sen. Carter. “We must reform the current standards and ensure that changes to our Constitution are supported statewide.”

Given voters’ recent rejection of efforts to increase the approval threshold from 50% to 60% in Ohio, Arkansas, and South Dakota, Sen. Carter is hopeful lawmakers will rally around reform using Concurrent Majority Ratification (CMR), instead of increasing the percentage. CMR would add a requirement that amendments also be approved by a majority of voters in at least half of the House Legislative Districts, necessitating broad support across all areas of Missouri.

The letter, signed and supported by eight Missouri Senators, also urges the governor to call a special election ballot for the public vote on any proposal for ratification changes.

To learn more about Sen. Carter and her legislative actions, visit her official Senate website at senate.mo.gov/carter.

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