What ballot summary did Missouri approve for Mark Johnson's electoral-vote petition 2026-121?

Plain-English summary

Missouri Attorney General Catherine L. Hanaway approved the legal content and form of the proposed ballot summary for Mark Johnson's initiative petition 2026-121, version 9 of an Article VIII amendment.

The approved summary said the proposal would replace Missouri's winner-take-all system for presidential electoral votes with a proportional system beginning in 2028. It also said the proposal would lessen Missouri's influence in determining presidential election outcomes.

The Attorney General's review under § 116.334, RSMo was limited to legal content and form and did not endorse the proposal.

What this means for you

Voters and ballot-measure researchers

Opinion 343-2025 records the approved wording for petition 2026-121 concerning how Missouri awards presidential electoral votes.

Initiative petition proponents

The proposed summary passed legal-content and form review. The opinion did not take a position on the petition's objectives.

Common questions

Q: What electoral-vote change did the summary describe?
A: Replacing Missouri's winner-take-all system with a proportional system beginning in 2028.

Q: What election consequence did the summary state?
A: It said the proposal would lessen Missouri's influence in determining presidential election outcomes.

Q: Did the Attorney General endorse the proposal?
A: No. The opinion expressly disclaimed endorsement and any view on the proponents' objectives.

Background and statutory framework

The Secretary of State requested review on December 23, 2025. The proposed summary concerned Mark Johnson's petition 2026-121, version 9, to amend Article VIII of the Missouri Constitution.

The Attorney General issued Opinion 343-2025 on December 29, 2025 and approved the summary's legal content and form under § 116.334, RSMo.

Citations and references

• § 116.334, RSMo

Source

• Landing page: https://ago.mo.gov/other-resources/ag-opinions/
• Original PDF: https://ago.mo.gov/wp-content/uploads/343-2025.pdf

Original opinion text

ATTORNEY GENERAL OF MISSOURI
CATHERINE L. HANAWAY

December 29, 2025

OPINION LETTER NO. 343-2025

The Honorable Denny Hoskins, CPA
Missouri Secretary of State
James C. Kirkpatrick State Information Center
600 West Main Street
Jefferson City, MO 65101

Dear Secretary Hoskins:

This opinion letter responds to your request dated December 23, 2025, for our review under § 116.334, RSMo, of a revised proposed summary statement prepared for the petition submitted by Mark Johnson (2026-121) regarding a proposed amendment to amend Article VIII, version 9, of the Missouri Constitution. The proposed summary statement is as follows:

Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to:

• Replace Missouri's winner-take-all system of awarding electoral votes in presidential elections with a proportional system beginning in 2028; and

• Lessen Missouri's influence in determining the outcome of presidential elections?

Pursuant to § 116.334, RSMo, we approve the legal content and form of the proposed statement. Because our review of the statement is mandated by statute, no action that we take with respect to such review should be construed as an endorsement of the petition, nor as the expression of any view regarding the objectives of its proponents.

Very truly yours,

CATHERINE L. HANAWAY
Attorney General

OP-2025-361

Supreme Court Building, 207 W. High Street, P.O. Box 899, Jefferson City, MO 65102 | Phone: (573) 751-3321 | www.ago.mo.gov