Respect Missouri voters, don’t overrule them | Opinion

With their actions this session, the Missouri General Assembly sent another loud message: Your vote doesn’t matter. Legislators overruled your referendum protecting earned sick time — despite clear support from voters.

This isn’t about partisanship. It’s about power — whether it belongs to citizens or politicians in our state, where the motto is “Salus populi suprema lex esto” (“Let the good of the people be the supreme law”).

That’s why the Respect Missouri Voters Coalition is coming together to ban Missouri politicians from overturning the will of the people, including Show Me Integrity, the National Organization for Women, Veterans for All Voters, Missouri NAACP, and many others.

This isn’t the first time politicians have ignored the citizens. In 2010, voters passed regulations to stop inhumane puppy mills. In 2018, Missourians approved anti-corruption reforms. In 2020, voters expanded Medicaid. Each time, politicians spent the legislative session repealing or interfering with the people’s decision, which also meant they had to charge taxpayers for special sessions to complete basic business. 

That’s why Respect MO Voters is working to put a constitutional amendment on the 2026 ballot to restore the voice of the people. Our amendment will do three key things:

1. Protect voter-passed laws — Prohibiting legislators from repealing or gutting legislation approved by voters.
2. Defend the citizen initiative process — Our amendment locks in your right to propose and pass laws, without interference or new roadblocks.
3. Ensure honest ballot language — We will ensure ballot issues have clear, fair summaries, so voters know exactly what they’re voting on.

Missourians don’t always agree on policy, but we do agree that the rules should be fair and the outcomes should be respected. Today, it’s sick time and healthcare. Tomorrow, it could be taxes, schools, or public safety. When politicians can undo your vote, no issue is safe.

Join us in protecting the will of the people. Help Respect MO Voters get this critical amendment on the 2026 ballot.

Learn more or get involved at RespectMOVoters.org.

Daniel Romine, of Springfield, is a board member of Show Me Integrity and a member of the Conservatives Against Corruption coalition. Benjamin D. Singer of St. Louis is the CEO of Show Me Integrity.