Missouri Advisory Opinions January 24, 2023: 32-2023

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 January 13, 2023 for our review under § 116.334, RSMo of a proposed summary statement prepared for the petition submitted by David Roland, 2024-015. The proposed summary statement is as follows:

Do you want to amend the Missouri Constitution to:

• make primaries open elections with all candidates for statewide offices, Missouri General Assembly, county offices, and the United States Congress, appearing on a single ballot;

• make general election a runoff between the top four candidates for each office from the open primary elections using ranked choice voting;

• fill vacancies for statewide offices, Missouri General Assembly, county offices, and the United States Congress with special elections; and

• disallow the general assembly from enacting laws hindering estabhshment of open primaries and instant runoffs?

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 truyours,

ANDREW BAILEY Attorney General