Missouri voters will be asked whether most counties should require that their sheriffs be elected and limit the circumstances under which they can be removed from office.
The proposed constitutional amendment, called Amendment 8, mirrors state law, which already requires sheriffs to be elected. The amendment and current law exempt St. Louis, St. Louis County and St. Charles County, which are appointed by local officials.
The amendment’s only change to state law would be the process for removing a sheriff from office.
What does the amendment say?
Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to support law enforcement by preserving the right of citizens to elect a county sheriff, prohibiting the removal of a county sheriff except by a writ of quo warranto, and recognizing the office of sheriff as part of the administration of justice?
What does a ‘yes’ vote do?
A yes vote would enshrine sheriff’s duties and electoral processes in the Missouri Constitution. It would allow a sheriff to be removed only through a writ of quo warranto — a legal action challenging a person’s right to hold public office — brought by the Missouri attorney general.
What does a ‘no’ vote do?
A no vote would leave current Missouri statutes in place unless the General Assembly changed them in the future.
What would this change?
The proposal’s only change to current law would be to limit local circuit attorneys and county prosecutors from initiating the removal of a local sheriff. Under the amendment, only the attorney general could initiate the process…