Special Call to Action 5.5.26

SPECIAL CALLS TO ACTIONMay 5, 2026

Voting Rights / ElectionsBill #: HB 3146 (House bill now in the Senate)

LWVMO OPPOSES this bill

Short Description:

Would allow misleading ballot summary statements.

Status of the Bill:

Currently on the formal Senate Calendar, which means it could be voted on at any time. If it passes, this would be the final vote before sending it to the Governor to sign into law.

Talking PointsThis bill removes the ability of citizens to challenge unconstitutional or misleading language in legislatively referred constitutional amendments by prohibiting courts from changing summary statements.Missouri has a history of misleading summary statements that have been corrected only through court action.It is critical that summaries of ballot issues be accurate and not misleading so voters can make informed decisions about how they choose to use their votes.Under this proposed law, if the courts find that the summary language is flawed, rather than rewriting it, the court must send it back to the Secretary of State up to three times, causing unnecessary delays. This would negatively impact the time needed to inform voters about a ballot measure.Link to the summary of the bill: HB 3146

Call to Action:Contact your Senator—regardless of party—and tell them to OPPOSE this bill. If your Senator is a Democrat, encourage a filibuster.

Find your Senator HERE.

LWV Position:The League of Women Voters of the United States believes that democratic government depends upon informed and active participation at all levels of government. The League further believes that governmental bodies must protect the citizen’s right to know by giving adequate notice of proposed actions, holding open meetings, and making public records accessible.

(LWVUS Impact on Issues 2024–2026, p. 59)