Dear Editor:

Missouri legislators have shown us a lot about themselves during the 2025 regular and special sessions. They’ve shown us they will overturn our votes. Prop A, paid sick leave for workers that won a majority of Atchison County voters by 52%, was overturned.

They’ve shown us that they would rig the citizen initiative process, making it impossible for voters to put anything on the ballot that the Secretary of State doesn’t agree with. This is being done right now by Missouri’s AG and Secretary of State with the referendum petition to stop gerrymandered congressional districts. Citizen initiatives have shown us their value. In recent years, voters expanded Medicaid and legalized medicinal and recreational marijuana through citizen initiatives. In December, sports betting becomes available in Missouri, thanks to a citizen initiative.

It’s time to show politicians that we value our freedom to petition. Respect Missouri Voters is working to put an amendment on the 2026 ballot that would ban politicians from overturning our vote, from using misleading language on the ballot, and from changing the rules to make citizen initiatives harder for everyday Missourians to use. Upcoming community meetings will be held in Rock Port, Tarkio, and Fairfax. Be an informed citizen and voter and attend one of these meetings. When asked to sign the RespectMoVoters petition, please do so. Look at htps://respectmovoters.org for more information. Missouri’s State Moto is: “Let the welfare of the people be the supreme law.” It’s time Missouri politicians do that!

Respectfully,

Nancy Delores Zeliff, Skidmore, MO