Missouri Advisory Opinions May 03, 2023: 265-2023
Collection: Missouri Attorney General Opinions
Docket: 265-2023
Date: May 3, 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 April 20, 2023, for our review under § 116.334, RSMo of a proposed summary statement prepared for the petition submitted by Winston Apple, 2024-100. The proposed summary statement is as follows:
Do you want to amend the Missouri Constitution to:
• elect the governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, treasurer, attorney general and auditor by the General Assembly;
• allow an election to be called separately at any time by a majority of members of either chamber; • allow any member of the General Assembly to nominate candidates;
• provide if more than two candidates are nominated for an office, the election shall be conducted using ranked choice voting and members of the General Assembly shall rank by order of preference; and
• allow any candidate who receives a majority of votes to be elected?
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