Voting Rights

Bill #: HJR 104 and SJR 78

LWVMO OPPOSES these bills

Short Description: These bills would effectively prohibit rank choice voting by imposing the restriction that "The candidate that receives the greatest number of votes in a political party primary shall be the only candidate for that political party at the general election".  They also would give the legislature the discretion of outlawing voting machines.

Status of the Bill: SJR 78 is scheduled for Executive Session on Monday, March 4 at 2:00 PM in the Senate Local Government and Elections Committee.  HJR 104 is scheduled for Executive Session on Tuesday, March 5 at 12:00 PM in the House Elections and Elected Officials Committee.

Talking points: 

• Voters are interested in less, not more partisanship 

• Voters should be allowed to consider methods of voting that give them more choices 

• This measure - like many others - seeks to limit the rights of voters by imposing new prohibitions    

Link to the summary of the bill: SJR 78   HJR 104

Call to action: 

5 for Democracy: Contact committee members and tell them you oppose these bills:  HERE for SJR 78, HERE for HJR 104 

LWV Position: Whether for single- or multiple-winner contests, the League supports electoral methods that:

• Encourage voter participation and voter engagement.

• Promote sincere voting over strategic voting.

• Implement alternatives to plurality voting.

(Impact on Issues, p. 52)

Bill #: SB 724

LWVMO OPPOSES 

Short Description: Creates Office of Election Crimes and Security in the office of the Secretary of State (SOS) and gives Attorney General concurrent jurisdiction with local prosecuting attorneys; expands powers of SOS on election matters.

Status of the Bill: Scheduled for a hearing on Monday, March 4 at 2:00 PM in the Senate Local Government and Elections Committee

Talking points: 

• This bill expands the powers of the Secretary of State and the Attorney General at the expense of local prosecuting attorneys

• The bill increases the risk of greater politicization of the electoral process by partisan state executives

Link to the summary of the bill: SB 724

Call to action: 

5 for Democracy: Senate hearings only allow for in person testimony. Contact the members of the committee and tell them you oppose SB 724 HERE

LWV Position: LWVMO: Supports an accurate, efficient, accessible, accountable and uniform electoral process.  (Impact on Issues, Election Process & Voting Rights, p. 12).  State and federal legislation, in general, should provide a “floor,” a minimum standard for local policies that local governments can build on to fit their jurisdictions’ needs and constituents’ desires, but not a “ceiling” that prohibits local governments from policy innovation and testing.  (Impact on Issues, Election Process & Voting Rights, pg. 6)

Education

Bill #: SB 918

LWVMO OPPOSES

Short Description: This act prohibits school districts from teaching about The 1619 Project, critical race theory, or any divisive concepts, as defined in the act. Districts are also prohibited from certain actions listed in the act relating to curriculum and instruction.

Status of the Bill: Scheduled for a Hearing in the Senate on Tuesday, March 5, at 8:00 AM in the Select Committee on Empowering Missouri Parents and Children.

Talking points:

• Legislates an issue that does not exist; critical race theory is not taught in K-12

• Creates an environment where teachers are forced to continually defend their material or will not teach accurate history or social concepts for fear of reprisal

• Limits how teachers discuss race and ethnicity

Link to the summary of the bill: SB 918

Call to action:

5 for Democracy: Senate hearings only allow for in person testimony. Contact the members of the committee and tell them you oppose SB 918 HERE

LWV Position: LWV is an organization fully committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in principle and in practice to all persons, regardless of their race, color, gender, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, or disability.  (LWVMO Guide to State Action, p. 51)

Firearms

Bill #: SB 754

LWVMO SUPPORTS sections regarding Blair’s Law and increasing the penalties for armed criminal action and endangering the welfare of a child.

Short Description: This act modifies provisions relating to public safety including Blair's Law that increases the penalty for celebratory gunfire; modifies penalties for armed criminal action; increases the offense to a class D felony for endangering the welfare of a child regarding firearms.

Status of the Bill: Has been taken up for a Third Reading (the final vote in the Senate) on Monday, March 4.

Talking points:  

• Missouri considered a “failed” state for lack of strong gun laws (Everytown)

• Missouri has three times as many gun deaths as other national gun leader states (Grandparents For Gun Safety)

• American children are twelve times more likely to be killed by a gun than children in other countries (CDC)

Link to the summary of the bill: SB 754

Call to action:

5 for Democracy: Contact your State Senator to tell them you support this bill using the form on the legislator’s website. Look up your Senator HERE. 

Links to further reading: Grandparents for Gun Safety 

LWV Position: Protect the health and safety of citizens through limiting the accessibility of guns. Supports regulating firearms for consumer safety. (Impact on Issues, p. 153)

Reproductive Rights

Bill #: SS/SCS/SBs 1168 & 810 and HCS HB 2634

LWVMO OPPOSES these bills

Short Description: No public funds shall be expended to any abortion facility, or affiliate or associate thereof, including for MO HealthNet reimbursement.

Status of the Bill: SS/SCS/SBs 1168 & 810 is placed on the Senate Informal Perfection Calendar for Monday, March 4.  HCS HB 2634 is scheduled for a third reading in the House on Monday, March 4.

Talking points: 

• Planned Parenthood does not provide abortions in MO but provides necessary healthcare such as contraception, sexually transmitted infection testing and treatment

• Bill denies necessary healthcare to people who count on Medicaid since there are not enough providers that accept the same 

• The League has joined with other pro-choice organizations in continuous opposition to restrictions on the right of privacy in reproductive choices that have appeared in Congress as legislative riders to funding measures 

• The League supports the rights of women and those who can become pregnant to self-determination related to, and including, but not limited to bodily autonomy, privacy, reproductive health, and lifestyle choice 

Link to the summary of the bill: SS/SCS/SBs 1168 & 810; HCS HB 2634

Call to action:

5 for Democracy: Contact your State Senator to tell them you oppose SS/SCS/SBs 1168 & 810 using the form on the legislator’s website.  Look up your Senator HERE. 

Contact your State Representative to tell them you oppose HCS HB 2634 using the form on the representative’s website. Look up your Representative HERE. 

LWV Position: The League of Women Voters of the United States believes that public policy in a pluralistic society must affirm the constitutional right of privacy of the individual to make reproductive choices.