Missouri Advisory Opinions November 16, 2021: 149-2021

Advisory Opinion Text

Missouri Secretary of State

James C. Kirkpatrick State Information Center

600 West Main Street

Jefferson City, MO 65101

Dear Secretary Ashcroft:

This opinion letter responds to your request dated November 5, 2021 for our review under § 116.334, RSMo of a proposed summary statement prepared for the petition submitted by Austin Shaffer, 2022-067. The proposed summary statement is as follows:

Do you want to amend the Missouri Constitution to:

• require votes to be counted by hand not by machines;

• require all ballots to be paper ballots;

• require a State-issued ID or driver license to vote;

• permit early voting no more than fourteen days prior to election;

• allow observers inside and outside polling stations to take pictures;

• allow the state General Assembly to adjust or void any vote totals it determines appropriate in presidential elections; and

• create the crime of treason against persons for voter fraud, failure to report results timely and certain poll worker actions?

Pursuant to § 116.334, RSMo, we approve the legal content and form of the proposed statement. Because our review of the statement is mandated by statute, no action that we take with respect to such review should be construed as an endorsement of the petition, nor as the expression of any view regarding the objectives of its proponents.

Very truly yours,

ERIC S. SCHMITT, Attorney General