Cara Brown McCormick
An Election Reformers Network (ERN) report covering a 13-year period has found that state lawmakers and elected officials are increasingly manipulating the ballot initiative process to block or impede citizen-led efforts.
The report, "Partisan Control of Ballot Measures: How to Stop Manipulation of Citizen Initiatives," highlights how partisan officials have repeatedly undermined voters' will to protect their political interests—often in blatant and increasingly brazen ways.
Widespread Repeals and Alterations
The report states that between 2010 and 2023, state legislatures repealed or altered more than 20% of voter-approved initiatives, often with little regard for the people's will.
Worse, partisan officials like secretaries of state and attorneys general have used their control over ballot language, fiscal assessments, and signature verification to intentionally mislead voters or block initiatives from reaching the ballot.
“This report shows that the very process intended to empower citizens is being hijacked by elected officials who use their power to stop the people’s voice from being heard,” said Kevin Johnson, Executive Director of ERN.
“The people’s right to propose and approve laws is being systematically weakened.”
“Elected officials shouldn’t be allowed to manipulate the ballot language to confuse voters or block measures that don’t serve their political interests,” he continued.
The manipulation of the ballot initiative process is not just a technical issue; it’s a direct assault on citizen democracy. The initiative process is one of the few remaining ways for ordinary citizens to bypass gridlocked legislatures and enact laws that reflect the valid will of the people.
This direct democracy empowers voters to take action on critical issues like healthcare, tax reform, ranked-choice voting, campaign finance reform, and civil rights -- issues repeatedly ignored or stymied by elected representatives from the two major political parties.
The Importance of Ballot Measures
“Ballot measures are vital, especially in states where single-party control often limits policy innovation,” said Joseph Cerone, lead author of the report. “We’re talking about the ability of the people to bypass politicians and make real change."
"This is a cornerstone of our democracy, and we cannot allow it to be hijacked by those in power.”
Despite the partisan abuse of the ballot initiative process, the ERN’s report also reveals a promising sign: widespread support for reform from voters of all political stripes. Voters are not surprised that self-serving politicians have tried to derail the initiative process and are willing to take action in Missouri.
Missouri’s Push for Integrity
Show Me Integrity in Missouri has drafted a constitutional amendment to protect citizens’ initiative rights. Filed in December 2024, the amendment would require an 80% approval threshold in the Missouri House and Senate to alter voter-approved initiatives.
It would also create a citizen commission to oversee the ballot measure process, ensuring decisions are made by impartial actors, not those with political stakes in the outcome.
“Ballot measures have been critical in advancing policy changes like Medicaid expansion and tax reform—issues that often get stalled in legislatures dominated by one party,” Cerone added.
“We must close the loopholes that allow manipulation of the process so that the voice of the people is not drowned out by partisan agendas. If we don’t act now, the integrity of our election system will continue to be compromised.”
Protecting citizens' right to direct democracy is not just about preserving a political process—it’s about upholding the foundation of a democracy where the people have a voice.
You can learn more at ElectionReformers.org.