Ballot Initiative Strategy Center releases statement on Missouri lawmakers’ attack on fair maps, 2018 ‘Clean Missouri’ ballot measure

05/13/2020

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

May 13, 2020

PRESS CONTACT:

Washington, D.C. — Earlier today, Chris Melody Fields Figueredo, the executive director of the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center, released the following statement regarding the Missouri legislature’s latest attempt to overturn the Clean Missouri initiative passed by voters in 2018.

Missourians overwhelmingly voted to pass the Clean Missouri ballot measure in 2018 because it created fair maps and ensured fair elections for the Show Me State. Now, in a shameful and undemocratic power-grab, politicians are trying to overturn the will of the voters to serve their own interests.

Efforts by Missouri politicians to undermine democracy and the ballot initiative process follow a concerning trend from Republican lawmakers and legislatures around the country. Ballot measures are a vital part of our electoral process and efforts to change the initiative process or overturn voter-approved initiatives are a direct attack on our democracy. The Dirty Missouri amendment walks back key parts of the 2018 ballot measure, and aims to once again let politicians draw gerrymandered maps that work for them, not the people.

The Ballot Initiative Strategy Center will continue its work with our friends and partners in Missouri to fight for the integrity of Clean Missouri, and send a clear message to politicians around the country that ballot measures are a valuable tool for voters to be heard—or there will be a political price to pay when you undermine the will of the people.

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The Ballot Initiative Strategy Center is the only progressive organization that works across the many policy, organizing, and political organizations, with local, state, and national players to analyze and support the ballot measure landscape.

No other national organization or network is solely focused on the strategy of running the best ballot measure campaigns or aligning ballot measure campaign efforts across sectors and networks to ensure the most effective use of resources and the greatest impact. BISC supports the campaigns, the state tables, in-state grassroots organizations, and funders alike with important strategic guidance, due diligence and analysis, while training advocates and practitioners in real time – from first time organizers to the most seasoned campaign operatives.