Review and approval of a summary statement prepared for the initiative petition submitted by Winston Apple regarding a proposed amendment to Chapter 128, Revised Statutes of Missouri (2016-154).

CHRIS KOSTER A TTORNEV GENERAL A TTORNEY GENERAL O F MisSOURI JEFFERSON CITY <35102 January 19, 2016 P.O.Boxaee (573) 7151-3321 OPINION LETTER NO. 34-2016 The Honorable Jason Kander Missouri Secretary of State James C. Kirkpatrick State Information Center 600 West Main Street Jefferson City, MO 65101 Dear Secretary Kander: This opinion letter responds to your request dated January 7, 2016, for our review under § 116.334, RSMo, of a proposed summary statement prepared for the petition submitted by Winston Apple regarding a proposed amendment to amend Chapter 128, Revised Statutes of Missouri (2016-154). The proposed summary statement is as follows: Shall Missouri law be amended to change the process for electing members of the United States House of Representatives by: • electing each member statewide rather than by congressional district; • allowing political parties to select their nominees by a statewide primary election, caucuses, party nominating convention, or a combination of caucuses and a convention; • permitting independent candidates to qualify for the general election by submitting a certain number of signatures; and www.ago.mo.gov OP-2016-0026 The Honorable Jason Kander Page 2 • awarding House seats based on the total statewide percentage received in the general election by each political party and independent candidates? Pursuant to§ 116.334, RSMo, we approve the legal content and form of the proposed statement. Because our review of the statement is mandated by statute, no action that we take with respect to such review should be construed as an endorsement of the petition, nor as the expression of any view regarding the objectives of its proponents. (!i:'YZt:~ CHRIS KOSTER Attorney General OP·2016·0025