FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 13, 2024
[….]

Ashcroft Issues Initiative Petition Certificates

Jefferson City, Mo. —– Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft today issued certificates regarding four initiative petitions filed with his office. Signatures for petitions 2024-038, 2024-086, 2024-160, and 2024-165 were submitted to the secretary of state’s office before the statutory deadline – May 8.

To receive a Certificate of Sufficiency, a minimum number of valid signatures must be obtained in six of the eight congressional districts in Missouri. Initiative petitions meeting sufficiency requirements will be placed on the November 5 statewide ballot – these include: 2024-038, 2024-086 and 2024-160.

Initiative Petition Summary:

Petition Number Subject Type of Amendment Sufficient / Insufficient

2024-038,Minimum Wage and Earned Paid Sick Time Statutory Sufficient

2024-086 Reproductive Health Care Constitutional Sufficient

2024-160 Sports Wagering Constitutional Sufficient

2024-165 Osage River Gambling Boat License Constitutional Insufficient

[emphasis added]

From Missourians for Constitutional Freedom:

Missouri Abortion Rights Initiative Petition, Amendment 3, Officially Verified and Set for the November Ballot

August 13, 2024

More than 380,000 Missourians from All 114 Counties Signed the Petition to End Missouri’s Cruel Abortion Ban at the Ballot Box

Missouri — Today, the Missouri Secretary of State’s Office officially verified that Missourians for Constitutional Freedom, the coalition committed to ending Missouri’s abortion ban, submitted enough signatures to put the Right to Reproductive Freedom Initiative on the ballot on November 5, 2024. A YES vote on Amendment 3 will give Missouri women and doctors the freedom to make decisions around pregnancy — including abortion, birth control, and miscarriage care — free from political interference.

Rachel Sweet, Campaign Manager for Missourians for Constitutional Freedom, said:

“This is a major step forward for our campaign and for Missourians who want to end our state’s cruel abortion ban. The successful submission of more than 380,000 signatures, collected from all 114 counties in Missouri, is a testament to the hard work and dedication of thousands of volunteers and supporters who believe we must end Missouri’s total abortion ban.”

“As we turn our attention to the November ballot, it’s clear Missourians overwhelmingly support reproductive freedom and will have the chance to make their voices heard at the ballot box. We are ready to fight so all Missourians can take back the freedom to make their own health care decisions.”

Mallory Schwarz, Abortion Action Missouri [2024 file photo].

Mallory Schwarz, Executive Director for Abortion Action Missouri, said:

“Right now in Missouri, abortion is banned, patients are being turned away from emergency rooms, and doctor’s hands are tied by politicians. This amendment is about making sure pregnant Missourians get the care they need without delay or restrictions.”

“A yes vote ends the abortion ban so that Missouri patients, families, and doctors can make personal and private decisions about pregnancy and abortion care, without politicians interfering. This amendment, this effort to end Missouri’s abortion ban is Missouri-grown. Missourians from Cape Girardeau to Maryville have been working together and taking action to make this initiative a reality. We’re committed to this cause because we live here; we’ve grown up here; we have families here; and we are taking back what’s ours.”

Tori Schafer, ACLU Missouri [2024 file photo].

Tori Schafer, Director for Policy and Campaigns for ACLU of Missouri, said:

“Voting YES on this amendment ends Missouri’s extreme, cruel abortion ban. Amendment 3 is crucial for restoring fundamental rights and ensuring that all Missourians have access to reproductive health care. This is about safeguarding our freedoms and protecting the health and dignity of every person in our state so that decisions around abortion, birth control, and miscarriage care are left up to patients and their families – not politicians.”

Dr. Selina Sandoval, Associate Medical Director for Planned Parenthood Great Plains Votes, said:

“Patients’ lives are at risk every day in Missouri because extremist politicians banned abortion. We can and we are going to change that in November. As a physician, I’ve seen firsthand the devastating impact this ban has had on Missouri patients, many of whom travel hours from home if they can get an appointment, while others simply cannot access care. In all my years of training – medical school, residency, fellowship – I was never taught how to explain to a patient why their rights depended on their zip code. As Missourians, we deserve better, and I am grateful to the volunteers and advocates who have worked tirelessly to make sure my hands are not tied by politicians and my patients can access life-affirming care.”

Margot Riphagen, Vice President of External Affairs for Planned Parenthood Great Rivers Action, said:

“Missourians have been suffering under a total abortion ban with no exceptions, leaving women and families in unimaginable circumstances. Politicians in Jefferson City have stripped away access to essential reproductive health care, forcing Missourians to face dangerous pregnancy complications without the care they need, particularly in rural parts of the state where access to reproductive care is already limited.”

“This cruel and unjust ban has put countless lives at risk and denied people the fundamental right to make their own health care decisions. By passing this amendment, we can end Missouri’s total abortion ban and ensure that Missourians regain access to comprehensive reproductive health care. It’s time to put control back in the hands of individuals and protect the health and dignity of our communities.”

To join our campaign, sign up at moconstitutionalfreedom.org.

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Previously:

Chutzpah (Kansas) (August 4, 2022)

Campaign Finance: Not too sure about that (January 16, 2024)

Missourians for Constitutional Freedom – women’s rights initiative petition for 2024 ballot (January 18, 2024)

Campaign Finance: Remember Kansas? Missouri is next. (January 19, 2024)

Campaign Finance: own it (January 19, 2024)

Campaign Finance: We’re not in Kansas anymore (January 19, 2024)

Mark Alford (r) – failure to read the womb, again (January 21, 2024)

Campaign Finance: More (January 22, 2024)

Campaign Finance: and more (January 23, 2024)

Campaign Finance: It does, but not in the way you think. (January 23, 2024)

Campaign Finance: and even more (January 26, 2024)

Campaign Finance: “No one expects the anti-choice imposition” (January 26, 2024)

Campaign Finance: this is the beginning, not the end (February 1, 2024)

Campaign Finance: keep it coming (February 4, 2024)

Campaign Finance: philanthropy (February 6, 2024)

Missourians for Constitutional Freedom – volunteer training, petition signing, rally – Kansas City, Missouri – February 6, 2024 (February 6, 2023)

Rev. Holly McKissick – Missourians for Constitutional Freedom – Kansas City – February 6, 2024 (February 7, 2024)

Rabbi Doug Alpert – Missourians for Constitutional Freedom – Kansas City – February 6, 2024 (February 7, 2024)

Dr. Iman Alsaden – Missourians for Constitutional Freedom – Kansas City – February 6, 2024 (February 8, 2024)

Hartzell Gray – Missourians for Constitutional Freedom – Kansas City – February 6, 2024 (February 8, 2024)

Campaign Finance: the world in which they want you to exist (February 9, 2024)

Signing, Everywhere, All at Once (February 10, 2024)

Campaign Finance: definitely a global impact (February 16, 2024)

Campaign Finance: forward (February 21, 2024)

Campaign Finance: still more (February 23, 2024)

Campaign Finance: more forward (February 26, 2024)

Campaign Finance: keep it coming in (March 5, 2024)

Signing the Petition – Sedalia, Missouri – March 17, 2024 (March 17, 2024)

Campaign Finance: there’ll be more (March 20, 2024)

Signing the Petition – Warrensburg, Missouri – April 5, 2024 (April 5, 20204)

Campaign Finance: sign the petition (April 10, 2024)

Sign the Petition (April 15, 2024)

Signing the petition in Lexington, Missouri (April 23, 2024)

Campaign Finance: on several levels (April 27, 2024)

Signing the Petition in Raymore, Missouri (April 28, 2024)

Campaign Finance: guess what’s next (April 29, 2024)

This morning in Jefferson City, Missouri – delivering the signed petitions (May 3, 2024)

This morning in Jefferson City, Missouri – delivering the signed petitions – part 2 (May 3, 2024)

Abortion Rights Rally in Jefferson City – May 3, 2024 – Press Gaggle (May 4, 2024)

Campaign Finance: coming up on the agenda (August 6, 2024)