Missouri Advisory Opinions September 18, 2023: AGO 338-2023

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 September 8, 2023, for our review under § 116.334, RSMo of a proposed summary statement prepared for the petition submitted by Alixandra Cossette, 2024-126. The proposed summary statement is as follows:

Do you want to amend the Missouri Constitution:

• require constitutional amendments to be voted only on November even-numbered year general elections;

• allow U.S. citizens to act as petition circulators; and

• allow constitutional amendments that have been certified and approved for circulation to be signed by registered voters attaching the ballot title language for use at the time, or for those without a certified ballot title required by law, the circulator may attach the full petition language and registered voter's signatures may be collected?

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