Missouri courts keep rewriting ballot language as fights over direct democracy intensify

By: Jason Hancock

Outlets: Missouri Independent

Published: June 12, 2026

Words: 1,925

Last Updated: 3 weeks, 2 days ago

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As Missouri secretary of state, Denny Hoskins is often responsible for reducing complicated ballot measures to a few sentences voters can understand.

In his first year and a half in office, judges have repeatedly found those sentences unfair, insufficient or misleading.

Courts have rejected or rewritten Hoskins’ descriptions five times on measures involving abortion, redistricting, public education, private-school funding and the initiative-petition process itself.

But the pattern extends beyond the secretary of state’s office.

During …

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