JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft’s office will not be required to process the sample initiative petition delivered by Jeffrey K. Basinger before the November 8 general election following a judgment in the Circuit Court of Cole County. Mr. Basinger is seeking to amend the Missouri Constitution to enshrine the right to abortion.
Ashcroft’s office received Basinger’s sample initiative petition on August 1, 2022, for placement on the November 5, 2024, general election ballot, but declined processing due to language set in the Missouri Constitution and the law.
Judge Jon E. Beetem of the Circuit Court of Cole County denied Basinger’s complaint saying in his judgment, “To be entitled to a permanent writ of mandamus, Relator (Basinger) must show that he has a clear, unequivocal right to have his sample initiative petition for the 2024 general election processed by the Secretary of State before November 9, 2022. He cannot.”
“Again today, the court ruled in our favor,” Ashcroft said. “We feel the court ruled appropriately as my office followed Missouri law as it relates to this issue. This petition, if refiled, will be processed in the same manner and timeframe as all others submitted after the general election.”
As the November election is days away, Secretary Ashcroft would ask voters to self-educate on all ballot measures to make informed decisions at the ballot box.
More information, including acceptable forms of voter identification can be found at GoVoteMissouri.com.