Current Law
Since 1875, the Missouri Constitution has required that legislative districts have an equal number of people.

This means that all people, including children and noncitizens, have always been counted for representation.

Current law expresses this obligation as a requirement to draw maps on the basis of “total population.”
Proposed Changes
Amendment 3 would replace the obligation to draw maps on the basis of “total population” with vague language stating that maps must be drawn on the basis of “one-person, one-vote.”

Some Missouri lawmakers have suggested that this language would allow map drawers to disregard children and non-citizens when drawing maps. This would be a radical change that departs from the practice of every other state.

If Missouri were to draw maps on this alternative basis, communities with a larger number of children would lose representation in favor of communities with fewer children. Black communities would be among the hardest hit.