Respect Missouri Voters submits 367,000+ signatures
2026 constitutional amendment to require all ballot summaries to be clear, fair, and easy to understand
Jefferson City - On a sunny Sunday at noon, hundreds of Respect Missouri Voters volunteers from all over the state, Republicans, Democrats, and independents, gathered to submit 367,000+ signatures to the Secretary of State’s office, more than double the number required to qualify the citizen initiative petition for the 2026 ballot.
If passed, the Respect Missouri Voters constitutional amendment would stop politicians and special interests from trying to trick voters with confusing ballot language. The amendment would require all ballot summaries to be clear, unbiased, and easy to understand, so Missouri voters know exactly what they are voting on.
Volunteers, including veterans, grandmothers, and even a preacher, shared how their motivation led them to set a new record for most signatures ever gathered by volunteers for a petition in Missouri history. Nearly 2,000 Respect Missouri Voters volunteers all over the state collected more than 250,000 signatures, beating the previous record of 170,000. After the remarks, volunteers carried boxes of petitions from all 115 Missouri counties into the building.
The Respect Missouri Voters amendment will ensure that politicians respect the will of the people by:
Requiring ballot summaries to be clear, unbiased, fair, accurate, and easy to understand.
Preserving our century-old constitutional freedom to petition.
Making it harder for politicians to change or undo what the people have already voted on.
The campaign kicked off in February 2025 with volunteer-organized town halls, surveys, and policy summits to craft an amendment directly shaped by the people of Missouri. Volunteers then raised money to hire the state’s top constitutional attorneys to draft the amendment. With the policy set and the will of the voters behind them, the coalition transitioned into a historic signature-gathering campaign that mobilized 2,000 volunteers from every corner of the state.
Speakers at Sunday’s signature turn-in included:
Nancy Zeliff, retired teacher, grandma and Respect MO Voters Volunteer NW Regional Field Director from near Skidmore, outside Maryville
Former Senator Bob Johnson (R-Lee’s Summit)
Benjamin Singer, Respect Missouri Voters Co-Founder and campaign director
DeMarco K. Davidson, Executive Director, Metropolitan Congregations United
Vic Young, Navy veteran and Respect Missouri Voters onboarding chair from Grandview
Matthew Andrews, President of Laborers’ Local 42, a Marine veteran
Charmagne Schneider, volunteer signature gatherer from Cape Girardeau
Cameron Scholten, volunteer signature gatherer from Villa Ridge
Maya Dunlap, Data and Technology Director with Respect Missouri Voters
Toni Easter, volunteer and Respect Missouri Voters Co-Founder
“Preserving the citizen initiative process in Missouri is not a partisan issue,” said Former Senator Bob Johnson (R-Lee’s Summit). “The Respect Missouri Voters amendment will ensure the citizens ultimately remain as a check on the legislature.”
“Anyone who has voted in Missouri—Republicans, Democrats, and independents alike—has been frustrated by deceptive and confusing language on our ballots,” said volunteer April Hicks from Merriam Woods outside Branson. “Missouri voters deserve to know exactly what we are voting on.”
“Politicians should not be allowed to lie to voters with misleading ballot language!” exclaimed Benjamin Singer, Respect Missouri Voters co-founder, while the massive crowd cheered, waving rally signs and surrounded by American and Missouri flags. “Today, the voters of Missouri stand together, Republicans, Democrats, and Independents, to say “No more!’”
“Time and time again, the people of Missouri have voted to protect and strengthen workers’ rights in this state. And yet, too often, the very people we elect to represent us choose to ignore those decisions. That’s not how this is supposed to work,” said Matt Andrews, president of Laborers’ Local 42 in St. Louis and a Marine Corp Veteran. “I collected signatures for the Respect Missouri Voters Amendment, because every voter deserves to be heard. Not just some voters. Not just the ones with money or influence. Every single Missourian.”
“I live on a family farm near Skidmore, outside Maryville, and I’m here to tell you that voters in the rural parts of the state care deeply about preserving our long-storied Missouri tradition of the citizen initiative petition,” said volunteer NW Regional Field Director Nancy Zeliff.
Following May 3rd’s submission, the Secretary of State’s office has until 5pm on August 4, 2026 to certify the signatures. Once certified, the Respect Missouri Voters amendment will appear on the 2026 ballot.
