The Missouri House gave initial approval Tuesday to send some Clean Missouri provisions back to voters.
In November, 62% of voters approved the measure that took the redrawing of voter districts out of legislators' hands and shifted the responsibility to a non-partisan demographer.
The House wants to roll that provision back and give lawmakers the power to weigh in on district drawing.
Supporters of making the change said the amendment that passed in November was unclear, and voters weren’t exactly sure of its details. The legislation’s sponsor, Rep. Dean Plocher, R-St. Louis, said the change will allow citizens to vote again on a clearer ballot measure. He said his amendment won’t automatically repeal the voter-approved change.
“We’re not trying to repeal anything with Amendment 1. We’re going to the voters. We’re not overturning the will of the voters. The voters are going to have their day,” he said.
Opponents of the legislation said lawmakers are going against the wishes of Missouri voters. Rep. Peter Meredith, D-St. Louis, said the change will decrease transparency in the redistricting process.
“What voters said very clearly in November is they want transparency... so it literally undoes what voters just voted on,” he said.
If the amendment gets passed by the General Assembly, it will go back to voters in November for approval.