Ballot Qualifications & Schedule
Date Initiative language can be submitted to state for 2002: Any time.
Signatures are tied to vote of which office: Governor
Next Gubernatorial election: 2012
Votes cast for governor in last election: 2,813,898
Net number of signatures required: For a statute, proponents must collect
signatures equal to 5% of votes cast for governor in 6 out of 9
Congressional districts and 8% for constitutional amendments. The actual
total number varies, depending on which 6 counties are chosen. A statute
initiative circulated in the 6 districts with the highest votes cast for
governor would require 143,888 signatures. An amendment would require
230,222.
Distribution requirement: 5% in 6 out of 9 congressional districts.
Circulation period: 18 months
Do circulators have to be residents of the state: Yes and they must register
with the Secretary of State’s office.
Date when signatures are due for certification: 6 months prior to statewide election
Signature verification process: Secretary of State verifies signatures by use
of random sampling.
Single Subject: Missouri has a single subject requirement.
Legislative tampering: The legislature can both repeal and amend
initiative statutes.
Excerpted from the Initiative & Referendum Almanac by M. Dane Waters.