Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 10, 2022
CONTACT: press@securedemocracyusa.org
Veterans Urge Missouri Lawmakers to Drop Threat to Initiative Petitions
Letter from Veterans for Political Innovation and Secure Democracy USA asks state senators to oppose HJR 79
Jefferson City, Mo. — On Monday, Veterans for Political Innovation (VPI) partnered with Secure Democracy USA to deliver a letter urging Missouri State Senators to oppose HJR 79 – a bill that would cripple the future of initiative petitions in the state.
With just three days until the end of the legislative session, the letter calls on lawmakers to stand with the veterans who fought to defend the freedom to vote in Missouri and throughout the country. HJR 79 would raise an already-high threshold for signature collection to an astonishing 615,000 in order for initiative petitions to make any statewide ballot. That figure stands in sharp contrast from the 10,000 signatures an independent candidate needs to make the same ballot.
"For the nearly-500,000 veterans who live in Missouri, the freedom to vote is among our most sacred – it's a right and responsibility held by all of us," wrote Eric Bronner, founder and COO of VPI. "As veterans, we didn't serve our country to see our fellow Americans' liberty threatened here at home. We served to see those freedoms shine – and what better way to shine than free, fair and accessible citizen petitions?"
"Time and time again, the initiative petition has proven to be a hugely-popular opportunity for Missouri voters to have their voice heard at the ballot box," said Diego Echeverri, director of advocacy for Secure Democracy USA. "HJR 79 is an unnecessary and gravely concerning proposal for future Missouri elections, and I hope lawmakers will listen to veterans like me when we say this bill is a bad deal for Missouri voters."
Eric Bronner is a U.S. Navy Veteran who served from 1997-2005. Diego Echeverri is a U.S. Army Veteran who served from 2002-2006.
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Secure Democracy USA is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that works to build confidence in our elections and improve voter access across the United States. We educate policymakers and the public about what it takes to safeguard our voting systems. We use sophisticated survey and messaging research to inform our strategy and we collaborate with state leaders, election administrators, policy experts, and allies to ensure that all eligible citizens have the freedom to vote how they choose.