The article was written by Brett Sterley, State Director of Convention of States Missouri.
One of Amendment 1's proposed changes to the Missouri Constitution deals with how legislative districts are drawn.
Currently, Missouri’s House and Senate state legislative districts are drawn by two bipartisan committees appointed by the Governor. If one or both of these committees fail to reach agreement, the responsibility falls to a commission appointed by the Missouri Supreme Court.
The goal is to make each district roughly the same population while keeping communities together as much as possible. The bipartisan committee membership keeps the process from being unfairly biased toward one party or the other.
This process has been successful for over 50 years with party control of the legislature changing regularly.
Amendment 1 seeks to take this process out of the bipartisan committee and place it in the hands of one person. This person would be called the "Non-Partisan State Demographer."
This person would reside in the State Auditors Office, a politically-elected position. The stated goal would be to draw districts that are evenly divided between Republican and Democrat voters.
There are several issues with this approach.
Instead of a bipartisan commission of legislators who answer to their constituents, the decisions would be made by a political appointee who is not accountable to the people of Missouri. To achieve the 50/50 split, neighborhoods and communities would be divided into multiple districts.
Instead of being represented by a member of your community, your representative would likely live elsewhere and not be familiar with the needs of your community.
Amendment 1 would disenfranchise minority communities and reduce minority representation by dividing African-American and Hispanic communities.
The United States Supreme Court has repeatedly ruled against these tactics. They disenfranchise voters, especially minorities.
If passed, Amendment 1 will limit the ability of your legislator to represent your community and interests. Your choice would be influenced by an unaccountable, partisan bureaucrat. There would be no recourse for the voter.
Please share this information with your friends and family. Your fellow Missourians are counting on you to help defeat this proposal that will adversely affect our state.
Turnout is critical to protect our state and our republic. We cannot allow Amendment 1 to pass. Please remember to vote on November 6.
Please vote NO on Amendment 1, the Clean Missouri Act.
Paid for by Convention of States Action, Mark Meckler, President, 5850 San Felipe, Suite 580A, Houston, TX 77057
