Review and approval of the legal content and form of the proposed fair ballot language prepared for the initiative petition relating to Elections for state and Federal Officials. (2022-051)

POPULI ATTORNEY GENERAL OF MISSOURI ERIC SCHMITT June 10, 2022 OPINION LETTER NO. 15-2022 The Honorable John R. Ashcroft Missouri Secretary of State James C. Kirkpatrick State Information Center 600 West Main Street Jefferson City, MO 65101 Dear Secretary Ashcroft: This opinion letter responds to your request dated June 1, 2022, for our review under § 116.025, RSMo, of a proposed fair ballot language statement for the initiative petition relating to Elections for state and Federal Officials, version 1 (2022-051). The proposed fair ballot language statement is as follows: A "yes" vote will amend the Missouri Constitution to make primary elections for statewide office, Missouri General Assembly and United States Congress open elections in which all candidates appear on a single ballot. The amendment would create a runoff between the top four candidates for each office selected at the primary election using ranked choice voting to determine the winner of the general election. A "no" vote will not amend the Missouri Constitution and primary and general elections will remain unchanged. If passed, this measure will have no impact on taxes. Pursuant to § 116.025, RSMo, we approve the legal content and form of the proposed fair ballot language statement. Supreme Court Building 207 W. High Street P.O. Box 899 Jefferson City, MO 65102 Phone: (573) 751-3321 Fax: (573) 751-0774 www.ago.mo.gov Because our review of the fair ballot language statement is mandated by statute, no action we take with respect to such review should be construed as an endorsement of the initiative petition, nor as the expression of any view regarding the objectives of its proponents. Very truly yours, ERIC S. SCHMITT Attorney General OP-2022-019