Missouri Advisory Opinions March 13, 2023: 170-2023

Advisory Opinion Text

The Honorable John R. Ashcroft

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 March 3, 2023, for our review under § 116.334, RSMo of a proposed summary statement prepared for the petition submitted by Frederic Steinbach, 2024-068. The proposed summary statement is as follows:

Do you want to amend the Missouri Constitution to:

• require in a party primary election that each eligible registered voter receive one and only one political party ballot;

• require election authorities to conduct a random manual audit of selected precincts;

• require ballot titles whether proposed by the General Assembly, or through citizen initiative or referendum to only include language found in the proposed measure; and

• guarantee all established political parties in the state the right to have their designated nominees appear on the general election ballot?

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,

ANDREW BAILEY Attorney General