I want to share my thoughts on two important amendments that will soon appear on your ballot—Amendment 3 and Amendment 7. Your vote on these amendments will have a significant impact on the future of our state. I strongly urge you to oppose Amendment 3 and to support Amendment 7, as they touch on issues critical to Missouri’s values, the protection of our children, and the integrity of our elections.
First, let’s talk about Amendment 3. This measure poses a serious threat to the health and well-being of our children and families. One particularly alarming aspect is that it could potentially allow for sex change operations on minors. The language of Amendment 3 is so broad and ambiguous that it could undermine SB 49, a bill we passed to protect minors from experimental gender transition procedures, also known as the Missouri Save Adolescents from Experimentation (SAFE) Act. This law prohibits healthcare providers from performing irreversible gender transition surgeries on minors. The approval of Amendment 3 could invalidate these protections and open the door for dangerous, life-altering procedures on young children. This is not the direction Missouri wants to go.
Amendment 3 also repeals Missouri’s hard-fought protections for unborn children. If passed, it would legalize abortion through all nine months of pregnancy and eliminate any meaningful restrictions on abortion. Partial-birth abortions could become a reality, and abortionists would be shielded from legal consequences, even in cases of gross negligence or malpractice. Missourians have spoken before in favor of life, and we must continue to stand strong against this radical agenda.
On the other hand, Amendment 7 is one that deserves our support. One of its most important provisions is that it ensures only U.S. citizens are allowed to vote in our elections. This is a safeguard against a growing trend across the country, where non-citizens are being granted the right to vote in local elections in cities like San Francisco and New York. We cannot allow this to happen in Missouri. Our elections should be decided by those who have a vested interest in our state and country — our citizens. It’s a fundamental principle of democracy, and Amendment 7 will protect that principle.
This amendment also bans ranked-choice voting, a confusing and inefficient method that has led to voter disenfranchisement in other states. In places like Alaska, ranked-choice voting has resulted in spoiled ballots and election delays. In a democracy, the person who gets the most votes should win the election, plain and simple. The complexity and chaos of ranked-choice voting do not reflect Missouri values, and we need to ensure that every vote is counted clearly and fairly.
In closing, I urge you to vote NO on Amendment 3 and YES on Amendment 7. These are important issues that affect the future of our families and the integrity of our elections. Together, we can protect our values and ensure a brighter future for Missouri.
May God bless and keep you and our great nation.
Hardy Billington represents District 152, which includes Butler County.