Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 1, 2021
CONTACT: press@secure-democracy.org
New Missouri Poll Finds Strong Bipartisan Support for Passing Constitutional Amendments without Legislative Interference
Eight in 10 Missouri voters believe state legislators should not be allowed to block or reverse passed ballot measures
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.— Eighty percent of all voters, including 76% of Republican voters, do not believe that the Missouri legislature should be permitted to limit, block, or reverse ballot measures that have been passed by the majority of voters, according to new polling released by Secure Democracy and conducted by conservative research firm Ragnar Research Partners. The research demonstrates widespread public support from Missourians for voters’ freedom to pass constitutional amendments without interference from the state legislature.
The majority of Missourians also support policies that would make it more difficult for legislators to interfere with passed ballot measures. Fifty-five percent of Missouri voters, including 67% of Republicans, would support a bill that would require at least a three-fourths vote of the Missouri legislature to repeal or alter a constitutional amendment. Sixty-one percent of voters believe that constitutional amendments are a more effective way to exercise political power than voting for or against individual candidates.
“Voters want the ability to pass constitutional amendments with little interference from the state legislature,” said Chris Perkins, partner at Ragnar Research. “In fact, voters are supportive of issues that increase the difficulties for the state legislature to change, limit, or block any amendment passed by voters.”
Among the poll’s key findings:
Voters believe that the state legislature should not be allowed to block or reverse any ballot measures passed by voters. 80% of all voters agree, including 88% of Democratic voters, 77% of Independent voters, and 76% of Republican voters.
Voters believe that the state legislature should not be able to overturn any ballot measures passed by voters. 69% of all voters agree, including 76% of Democratic voters, 67% of Independent voters, and 67% of Republican voters.
Voters believe that the state legislature should not be able to amend any ballot measures passed by voters. 55% of all voters agree, including 68% of Democratic voters, 51% of Independent voters, and 49% of Republican voters.
Voters support a bill that would require at least three-fourths of the Missouri legislature to repeal or alter a constitutional amendment. 55% of all voters support, including 46% of Democratic voters, 51% of Independent voters, and 67% of Republican voters.
Voters oppose efforts to increase the number of signatures needed to place an amendment on the ballot. 56% of all voters oppose, including 68% of Democratic voters, 64% of Independent voters, and 39% of Republican voters.
Voters believe constitutional amendments ensure their vote is making positive change.
52% believe constitutional amendments are a more effective way to ensure their vote is making positive changes.
61% believe constitutional amendments are more effective than exercising their vote for or against candidates.
Voters support the option of an early voting period to cast their ballots. 64% of all voters support, including 91% of Democratic voters, 60% of Independent voters, and 52% of Republican voters.
“At a time when our nation remains extremely polarized, strong majorities of Republicans, Democrats and independents want policies that improve voter access and bolster election integrity,” said Sarah Walker, executive director of Secure Democracy. “Creating an early, in-person vote period in Missouri — something only eight states, including Missouri, do not provide to voters today — would be an extremely popular way to do just that.”
Commissioned by Secure Democracy, Ragnar Research conducted the survey from March 23 through March 25, 2021 by live telephone operators, including landlines and cell phones. Interviews included 601 likely voters across the state of Missouri. Quotas on age, gender, ethnicity, education, and region were used to ensure a representative distribution. The full analysis from Ragnar Research can be found here.
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About Secure Democracy
Secure Democracy is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that works to improve election integrity across the United States. We educate policymakers and the public about what it takes to safeguard our voting systems. We collaborate with state leaders, election administrators, election integrity experts, and allies to ensure that all eligible citizens have the freedom to vote how they choose.