It’s time for Missourians to show their power

• Marcia Reed || October, 16, 2025

Should voters get the final say in Missouri? For more than a century, our constitution has given us that power through the referendum process. Gather enough signatures, and Missourians, not politicians, decide whether a law stands or falls.

Right now, People Not Politicians is using that process to challenge Missouri’s new gerrymandered congressional map, which appears to have been drawn to protect politicians instead of voters.

Organizers are collecting signatures, but time is short. They need at least 107,000 valid signatures from at least six congressional districts by Dec. 11. That’s less than nine weeks away.

Missourians have used this process 27 times in our history, on everything from taxes to labor laws. It’s a direct check on legislative power, giving citizens a voice when lawmakers overstep.

So the question is: Do voters still get the last word in Missouri, or has it become too difficult to exercise our constitutional rights?

If you believe voters should decide how districts are drawn, here’s where you can sign a petition:

• Tuesdays, in front of the U.S. Post Office on High Street in Jefferson City from noon to 12:45 p.m.

• “Stop the Creep of Tyranny — No Kings” rally at the Missouri Capitol on Saturday from noon to 1:30 p.m., followed by a People’s March downtown, passing the Governor’s Mansion.

For details, visit www.we-stand-united.org.

This is our chance to show that the power of the people is greater than the people in power.

Marcia Reed, of Holts Summit, is a lifelong Missouri resident, retired educator and concerned citizen.

Read the full article here: https://www.columbiamissourian.com/opinion/letters_to_the_editor/its-time-for-missourians-to-show-their-power/article_c1f0e771-ce21-42b8-84fd-9872aedf3416.html