League of Women Voters encourages No vote on Amendment 3
There’s a reason the League of Women Voters has put its century-long reputation behind the issue of fair maps in Missouri. Always nonpartisan with positions decided only after careful study, the League is asking voters on Nov. 3 to stop a return to gerrymandering in our state.
Amendment 3 on the November ballot is one of those “bad policy” issues the League of Women Voters
has studied and now opposes.
The amendment seeks to overturn what Missourians approved just two years ago as Clean Missouri. But it goes way beyond a simple reversal. If approved, Amendment 3 would put in its place a redistricting process unlike anything Missouri has ever seen — and more extreme than any other in America.
One of its most troubling parts would count only adults who are eligible to vote instead of everyone in Missouri, which has been the standard since at least 1875. So our children and grandchildren would not be counted in the state’s population totals for maps. What this means is that many of our local communities could see significant revenue losses because their representation in Jefferson City would change. No other state in the U.S. uses this standard of “eligible voters only.”
Since it was made a part of our State Constitution two years ago, Clean Missouri emphasizes competitiveness and fairness as priorities in drawing district maps. The League believes more competition is better for democracy. Why? Elected officials are held accountable to the people they represent. Have you noticed how few elected officials in our area now meet with their constituents? Or participate in forums? Or even answer candidate questionnaires? In super safe districts, which are most of those in Missouri, politicians and candidates see no need to engage with the citizens they work for. In the League, we’ve noticed this in responses to our nonpartisan voter guides and candidate forums.
Another disturbing element of Amendment 3 is the misleading ballot language. Just a few weeks ago a Cole County judge found the proposed ballot language to be “misleading, unfair, and insufficient.” The legislators behind Amendment 3 appealed. The Western Court of Appeals weighed in on the controversy on Sept. 2, stating the current wording was not only misleading, but that it broke the law with its deceptive language. It’s worth noting that Sen. Lincoln Hough (R-30), Rep. Steve Helms (R-135) and Rep. Crystal Quade (D-132) cast No votes on this legislation.
We must respect the decision Missourians voiced just two years ago calling for a stop to gerrymandering and a start toward fair maps in the Show-Me State.
Across Greene, Christian and Webster counties, the League of Women Voters of Southwest Missouri is working to help voters see the potential impact of Amendment 3. Along with the LWV of Missouri, we’re encouraging citizens to vote NO on 3.
(Signed)
Marjorie Bramer and Julie Steiger, co-presidents
League of Women Voters of Southwest Missouri
(This opinion piece was published Sept. 13, 2020 in the Springfield News-Leader.)