The Missouri House of Representatives passed a resolution to make various election and voting-related changes to the state constitution, including prohibiting ranked-choice voting (RCV) and noncitizen voting. If the resolution is passed by the Senate, it will go to Missouri voters to decide on Nov. 5, 2024.
The amendment was introduced as House Joint Resolution 104 (HJR 104), and passed the House by 102-44 on April 15, 2024. All 102 “Yes” votes were from Republican state representatives, and all 44 “No” votes were from Democratic state representatives. HJR 104 would provide that only citizens of the United States can vote, prohibit RCV, and require partisan primaries and a plurality voting system. It would require voting machines to be tested and certified as secure with federal standards before each election. The amendment would also provide for paper ballots to be used alongside any other mechanical method prescribed by law.
State Rep. Ben Baker (R-160) supported HJR 104, saying, “This is a significant step toward safeguarding the state’s electoral process. HJR 104 proposes to prohibit ranked choice voting (RCV) in Missouri, a system that has been gaining traction in various states and municipalities across the country. Like many other initiative petitions in recent years, the RCV idea has often been funded by deep pockets outside of our state, and this particular idea is really just a new scheme to get more Democrats elected in red states like Missouri. This measure comes as a response to the growing concerns about the potential impact of RCV on voter confidence, election integrity, and the efficiency of the electoral process.”
The Missouri Voter Protection Coalition submitted testimony opposing HJR 104, saying, “This is duplicative and unnecessary—given that only citizens are eligible to vote—and designed to confuse voters. Indeed it is ballot candy designed to stoke fears by Missourians that somehow non-citizens are eligible to vote. They are not … The proposed resolution would further undermine the voices of Missourians by prohibiting their ability to consider alternative forms of voting such as ranked choice or approval voting, but limiting ranking votes or allowing a voter to cast more than one vote (something that is common in certain municipal or school board elections). We should not shut Missourians out of the process of determining voting practices that may be desirable to them in the future.”
RCV is a voting system where voters are able to rank candidates based on preference on their ballots. RCV is currently used statewide in Alaska and Maine for federal and statewide elections, while Hawaii uses RCV for certain statewide elections. Fourteen states contain localities that either use or are scheduled to begin using RCV in municipal elections, while six states have enacted legislation prohibiting the use of RCV in any elections. This year, Alaska voters may decide on a ballot initiative that would eliminate ranked-choice voting in the state, while Arizona voters will decide on a constitutional amendment to require partisan primaries for partisan offices.
In order for the amendment to be placed on the ballot this Nov., it will need to pass the Missouri State Senate by a simple majority, which amounts to a minimum of 18 votes.
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