Missouri's Amendment 6: What to know before heading to the polls
Nov 05, 2024
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- As Election Day happens with one of the longest Missouri ballots in recent years, voters may find themselves wishing to be prepared before they step into the polling place.
One of the measures on Missouri's November 5 ballot is Amendment 6, which relates to levying fees to equip law enforcement with improved benefits. This would include sheriffs, former sheriffs, prosecuting attorneys, former prosecuting attorneys, circuit attorneys and former circuit attorneys.
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It would also reinstate a three-dollar court fee (only for those convicted) to fund retirement for sheriffs. The fee was put in place in 1983 but was challenged in court in 2015.
The exact wording at the polls will read:
“Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to provide that the administration of justice shall include the levying of costs and fees to support salaries and benefits for certain current and former law enforcement personnel? State and local governmental entities estimate an unknown fiscal impact.”
Those in favor of Amendment 6, like Cass County Sheriff, Jeff Weber, says that, "If there is no retirement for that job (law enforcement), you’re going to find fewer and fewer people and much less qualified people that are going to want to do that job. That is going to hurt every community across the state. It’s going to have a drastic impact on public safety.”
Republican Senator Rusty Black is also in favor of the amendment, claiming that it would allow law enforcement, specifically sheriffs to easily transition into retirement after serving their community.
However, Amendment 6 has its naysayers as well. Fines and Fees Justice Center and the National Police Accountability Project (NPAP) has raised concerns over the change.
“It’s an amendment that gives us some concerns, given that it is tying court access to law enforcement salaries and pensions,” said Lauren Bonds, Executive Director of NPAP.
“We see how that could potentially create a perverse incentive and then a bit of a conflict of interest for law enforcement officers if the more people that they arrest, charge, cite, and require to go into court, is tied to the revenue that’s necessary to fund their positions and their salaries."
Essentially, those in favor claim that Amendment 6 would benefit law enforcement and the public as a whole, making Missouri safer by providing law enforcement personnel with essential benefits.
On the other hand, those who stand against Amendment 6 think that having a court system with aspects that fund law enforcement creates an unjust system leading to unjust arrests and sentences.
What a 'yes' vote means
Voting 'yes' on Amendment 6 is in favor of changing the amendment, going back to levying fees for law enforcement salaries and benefits. It is also in favor of creating the three-dollar court fee to support Missouri sheriffs in retirement.
What a 'no' vote means
Voting 'no' on Amendment 6 is not in favor of changing the amendment to grant fees for law enforcement salaries and benefits. Additionally, the three-dollar court fee for those convicted would not be in place.