Malcolm Rivera
Missouri Amendment 7 is a proposal that seeks to amend the state's constitution to explicitly limit voting rights to U.S. citizens and ban ranked-choice voting in future elections. Ranked-choice voting is a system that allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference, and the winner is decided based on voters' preferences if no candidate wins a majority. A “yes” vote for Amendment 7 would prohibit ranked-choice voting and ensure that only U.S. citizens over the age of 18 can vote in Missouri state elections. However, critics argue that Amendment 7 is unnecessary and that it seeks to solve a problem that does not exist.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Missouri Amendment 7 |
| Date | November 5, 2024 |
| Purpose | Require citizenship to vote and prohibit ranked-choice voting |
| Ranked-choice voting | Banned |
| Approval voting | St. Louis is exempted |
| Non-citizen voting | Forbidden |
| Support | Freedom Principle MO, Liberty Alliance |
| Opposition | Better Ballot KC, Preserve Local Elections, The Kansas City Star Editorial Board, The St. Louis Post-Dispatch Editorial Board |
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What You'll Learn
Ranked-choice voting ban
Missouri Amendment 7, which will be put to a vote in November 2024, seeks to ban ranked-choice voting in the state. Ranked-choice voting is a system where voters rank candidates by order of preference, rather than voting for just one candidate. If no candidate wins the majority, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated, and their votes are reallocated based on the voters' preferences. This process continues until a candidate wins by majority.
Supporters of ranked-choice voting argue that it would make politics less polarised and incentivise politicians to more closely represent the views of voters. Benjamin Singer, the CEO of Show Me Integrity, has stated that "right now, we see politicians incentivized to lie to voters about what they really care about and voters incentivized to lie about who they really support".
However, Missouri Republicans argue that the method would confuse voters. The state representative, Adam Schwadron, has stated that "the language in our constitution is ambiguous. When you have the word ‘all’ citizens are able to vote instead of ‘only,’ that still does not preclude any local municipality from allowing non-citizens to vote."
The Kansas City Star Editorial Board has recommended voting "no" on Amendment 7, stating that it is "classic 'ballot candy': adding something to the ballot that sounds good to voters but has no practical effect." The St. Louis Post-Dispatch Editorial Board has also recommended voting against Amendment 7, arguing that it seeks to solve a problem that exists only in the realm of right-wing extremism and prevent a voting method that is designed to diffuse such extremism.
If approved, Missouri Amendment 7 would prohibit ranked-choice or approval voting in any elections in Missouri, including city, county, state, and federal levels. The city of St. Louis, which implemented approval voting in 2020, is exempted from the amendment and will continue to use approval voting for local races.
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Non-citizen voting ban
Missouri Amendment 7, which will be put to voters in the state's 2024 general election, seeks to amend the state's constitution to explicitly limit voting rights to US citizens and ban ranked-choice voting in future elections. The amendment deals with how elections are run in the state and will ask voters to "make the Constitution consistent with state law by only allowing citizens of the United States to vote".
The proposal has been criticised by the Kansas City Star Editorial Board, which recommended a "no" vote, calling it "classic 'ballot candy'", suggesting that it is designed to appeal to voters but has no practical effect. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch Editorial Board also recommended voters reject the amendment, arguing that it seeks to solve a problem that exists only in the realm of right-wing extremism and would prevent the use of a voting method that is designed to diffuse such extremism.
Support for the amendment has come from conservative groups like Freedom Principle MO and the Liberty Alliance, as well as the Honest Elections Project Action and the national Stop RCV coalition, whose chair, Jason Snead, has argued that the measure "protects Missouri’s elections from noncitizen voting and Ranked-Choice Voting, two schemes backed by the far-left to fundamentally remake American politics".
It is worth noting that Missouri state law already prohibits noncitizens from registering to vote in any election.
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Voting rights for US citizens
Missouri Constitutional Amendment 7, also known as the "Voter ID Amendment," is a recently enacted amendment to the Missouri Constitution that primarily addresses voter identification requirements and other election-related procedures in the state. The amendment was approved by Missouri voters in the general election on November 6, 2016, and went into effect on June 14, 2017.
The right to vote is a fundamental aspect of any democratic society, and it is no different in the United States. Voting rights for US citizens are guaranteed and protected by the United States Constitution, as well as by various federal laws and state constitutions. These rights ensure that eligible citizens can participate in electing their representatives and deciding on matters of governance, policy, and law. Understanding these voting rights is essential for citizens to effectively exercise their civic duties and influence the direction of their communities, states, and the country.
At the most basic level, voting rights encompass the qualifications and procedures for voter registration and casting ballots in elections. The 15th, 19th, 24th, and 26th Amendments to the US Constitution specifically address voting rights, prohibiting the denial or abridgment of the right to vote based on race, color, previous conditions of servitude, gender, or age (for citizens aged 18 and above). Additionally, the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, along with its subsequent amendments, provide further protections against discrimination and establish procedures to facilitate voter registration and participation.
These laws and amendments ensure that US citizens who meet the eligibility requirements, such as citizenship, age, and residency, have the right to register to vote and cast their ballots in federal, state, and local elections. They also prohibit actions that might infringe upon these rights, such as literacy tests or poll taxes, which have historically been used to discriminate against certain racial or socioeconomic groups. By guaranteeing these voting rights, the US ensures a more inclusive and representative democracy where citizens have a say in the decisions that affect their lives.
Missouri Constitutional Amendment 7 specifically focuses on enhancing voter identification requirements and security measures for casting ballots. It requires voters to present a form of valid photo identification, such as a driver's license or a state-issued ID card, when voting in person. For those without an acceptable photo ID, the amendment provides for the issuance of a free ID card by the state, ensuring that all eligible voters have the opportunity to participate. The amendment also allows for provisional ballots, which can be used when there are questions about a voter's eligibility, and it establishes procedures for verifying the validity of absentee and mail-in ballots.
In summary, voting rights for US citizens are fundamental to the country's democratic principles, and they are protected at both the federal and state levels. Missouri Constitutional Amendment 7 is a reflection of the ongoing efforts to safeguard these rights while also maintaining the integrity of the election process through secure and streamlined procedures. Understanding these rights and staying informed about relevant laws and amendments empower citizens to actively engage in the democratic process and shape the future of their communities.
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Single vote per candidate
Missouri Amendment 7, which will be put to voters in November 2024, seeks to amend the state's constitution to explicitly limit voting rights to US citizens in Missouri and ban ranked-choice voting in future elections.
Ranked-choice voting is a system where voters rank candidates by order of preference, rather than voting for just one candidate. If no candidate wins the majority, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated, and their votes are reallocated based on the voters' preferences. This process repeats until one candidate has a majority, meaning they are the winner only if the majority of voters preferred them over their opponents.
A “yes” vote for Amendment 7 would prohibit ranked-choice or approval voting in any Missouri election, including at the city, county, state, and federal levels. It would also add language to the Missouri Constitution to explicitly forbid non-citizens from voting in elections. However, state law already prohibits non-citizens from registering to vote in any election.
A “no” vote would allow Missouri municipalities to proceed with ranked-choice voting in future elections if such a system was approved locally. It would also reject the explicit ban on non-citizen voting in the state.
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Primary election candidates
Missouri Amendment 7, on the ballot for November 5, 2024, deals with how elections are run in the state. The amendment would require that only US citizens aged 18 or older can vote in state elections, ban ranked-choice voting, and require plurality primary elections that advance a single winner to the general election.
Ranked-choice voting asks voters to rank candidates from favourite to least favourite, rather than requiring them to pick only one candidate. Ranked-choice voting is used in some states and localities across the United States, including Maine, Alaska, New York City, Minneapolis, and Ann Arbor, Michigan.
A "yes" vote on Amendment 7 will amend the Missouri Constitution to specify that only US citizens are entitled to vote, restrict voters to a single vote for each candidate or issue, restrict any type of ranking of candidates for a particular office, and require the person receiving the greatest number of votes at the primary election as a party candidate for an office to be the only candidate for that party at the general election.
A "no" vote will not amend the Missouri Constitution to make any changes to how voters vote in primary and general elections. If the amendment fails, nothing would immediately change about the way elections are run in Missouri, but it could allow for state or local officials to introduce ranked-choice voting or mixed-party primary elections in the future.
The amendment has been criticised as a "classic 'ballot candy'" that "doesn't have a practical effect" and as an attempt to "candy-coat a poison pill". It has also been criticised as an attempt to limit the voting rights of Missouri citizens and stamp that limitation into the state constitution. However, supporters of the amendment include Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe, Attorney General Andrew Bailey, and state Treasurer Vivek Malek.
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Frequently asked questions
Missouri Constitutional Amendment 7 is a proposal to change the state's constitution to limit voting rights to US citizens in Missouri and ban ranked-choice voting in future elections.
Ranked-choice voting is a voting method that allows voters to rank their preferred candidates in order of preference. If no candidate wins the majority, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated, and their votes are reallocated based on the voters' preferences. This process repeats until a candidate achieves a majority.
Supporters of Amendment 7 argue that it would secure Missouri's elections and prevent non-citizen voting. They also believe that ranked-choice voting would confuse voters. Opponents of the amendment argue that it is a form of "ballot candy", adding something that sounds good but has no practical effect. They also argue that ranked-choice voting would make politics less polarised and force candidates to more closely represent the views of voters.
