JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Just days after the Missouri Senate passed new congressional maps, at least one group is actively gathering signatures to put the matter of maps in front of voters next year.
People Not Politicians Missouri held a conference call with reporters Monday, outlining their strategy to force the issue of redistricting onto a statewide ballot as a referendum vote.
“This is simply about how democracy should work and that people should be at the center of our democracy, not politicians,” Richard Von Glahn, a People Not Politicians spokesman, said.
The group said they need to gather more than 100,000 signatures in less than 90 days to make a referendum vote happen. Organizers have to gather at least five percent of voters in six of Missouri’s eight congressional districts.
If enough signatures are gathered and they are verified, the referendum would halt the law from taking effect until voters could weigh in on the matter.
“I am confident that we are going to gather signatures from every single county in the state by the time we turn in,” Von Glahn said. “And we will make sure that we are hitting the statutory requirements.”
Lawmakers passed the new congressional districts during a special legislative session last week. Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe will likely sign the legislation, though a date has not been given out by his office.
Want more insights? Join Working Title - our career elevating newsletter and get the future of work delivered weekly.
