The state legislature is in a special session right now, called by Governor Kehoe, to redraw the state’s congressional districts. This isn't just a routine process; it's a mid-decade effort being pushed by President Trump and the GOP to gain more seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.REDISTRICTINGBill #: HB1: Modifies the redistricting plan established in 2022. The League of Women Voters of Missouri OPPOSES this bill.The new map was drawn with a total lack of transparency and public participation Maps should reflect communities, not political calculations Redrawing congressional maps mid-cycle reflects political gamesmanship and erodes public trust in our democracy Democracy only works when every person has the right to be heard, counted, and fairly represented Gerrymandering runs counter to the principle of equal voting rights for all The newly proposed map affects voters who live in the 5th Congressional District and surrounding areas Partisan and racial gerrymandering distorts and undermines representative democracy by allowing officials to select their voters rather than voters select their officials Link to the bill: HB 1 What you can do now:Contact your Missouri representatives to tell them you oppose mid-cycle partisan redistricting. Find your representatives here. Join the League at the Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City Wednesday, September 10 atnoon to show Missouri legislators you want your vote and voice heard. Links to further reading:  Governor Kehoe Announces Special Session on Congressional Redistricting and Initiative Petition Reform At Trump's urging, Missouri jumps into redistricting race to help Republicans Missouri governor calls lawmakers back to Capitol to gerrymander congressional map  LWV Position:  The responsibility for redistricting should be vested in an independent special commission, with membership which reflects the diversity of the unit of government, including citizens at large, representatives of public interest groups, and members of minority groups. The standards on which a redistricting plan is based, and by which any plan should be judged, requires substantially equal population, geographic contiguity, and effective representation of racial and linguistic minorities. It must also promote partisan fairness, preservation and protection of "communities of interest," and respect for boundaries of municipalities and counties. It explicitly rejects protection of incumbents or preferential treatment for a political party. (LWVUS Impact on Issues 2024-2026, p. 44)   CITIZEN INITIATIVE PETITIONBill #: HJR 3: Modifies the Missouri Constitution regarding the Citizen's Initiative Petition Process, including making it necessary for ballot measures proposed by initiatives to pass by majority in all congressional districts. The League OPPOSES this bill.Governor Kehoe also called on the legislature to take up citizen initiative petition in this special session in an effort to limit all Missourians ability to propose and pass citizen initiative petitions Currently measures must pass by a statewide majority, regardless of outcomes in the individual congressional districts. This fairly reflects the will of ALL Missourians Requirements to have a constitutional amendment pass by a majority in all congressional districts will create a rule by minority, undermining the will of all Missourians Article VIII, Section 23 of the Missouri Constitution already prohibits contributions from foreign sources; this bill contains unnecessary repetitive language, most likely in an attempt to deceive voters This is not an emergency issue and should not be dealt with in a special session Link to the bill: HJR3 What You Can Do NowJoin the League at the Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City Wednesday, September 10, to show Missouri legislators you want your vote and voice heard. Contact your Missouri representatives to tell them you oppose changes to the citizen initiative petition process. Find your representatives here. LWV Positions: The League believes responsible government should be responsive to the will of the people. (LWVUS Impact on Issues 2024 - 2026, p. 11) The League believes that special sessions should be limited to real emergencies. (LWVMO Guide to State Action 2023-2025, p. 17) Addtional Actions You Can TakeCall every day and demand they stop the attempts at mid-decade redistricting and initiative petition reform: - Governor Kehoe: 573-751-3222 - Speaker Patterson: 573-751-0907 - Senator O’Laughlin: 573-751-7985 - Your own state representative and state senator  Tell them your name, zip code, and that you (as an individual) oppose mid-cycling redistricting and any effort to dismantle our initiative petition process.    Join us on September 10th at 12:00 PM at the Capitol in Jefferson City.  Join league members across the state to stand up against this authoritarian power grab. 

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