I just picked up on something I hadn't realized previously. During his presser, Caleb Rowden said that the citizen voting provision the House put into the IP reform bill wouldn't actually prevent non-citizens from voting in local elections. Turns out he's right. Nothing in the so-called "ballot candy" being proposed this year would have prevented St. Louis or Kansas City from allowing non-citizens to vote on local races, bond issues, tax increases, etc. The ballot candy would have only prevented non-citizens from voting on constitutional questions. Somehow, that detail was never shared while the issue was being discussed.

Here's the SJR 74 text:
"Section 2(d). No person shall be eligible to vote on any measure submitted to the people that amends, repeals, or replaces this constitution, whether pursuant to this Article or Article III, Section 50 of this constitution, unless such person is a legal resident of the state of Missouri and a citizen of the United States of America."

That said, the legislature did pass a different resolution that, if approved by voters, would prevent non-citizens from voting. Senate Joint Resolution 78 prohibits rank-choice voting. It also includes a provision that clarifies existing state law to clearly state that ONLY citizens may vote. This measure inspired little resistance from Democrats and will appear on an upcoming ballot, either in August or November.

"Section 2. [All] Only citizens of the United States,1
including occupants of soldiers' and sailors' homes, over
the age of eighteen who are residents of this state and of
the political subdivision in which they offer to vote are
entitled to vote at all elections by the people . . . "

It's an election year so nobody expected much to happen. Add to that the Freedom Caucus and its tactics that favored chaos and division over results and we got what we got. The good news is that there were no serious efforts to cost taxpayers money or impose restrictions on liberties. It was basically a wasted year and a lost session. That's not necessarily a bad thing.

Unless there are questions or some additional discussion, I'll let this thread fade away now. Thanks to everyone who read along.

But just in case anyone didn't get enough, I'll post a couple more news stories that were published over the weekend:

Winners and losers of Missouri’s 2024 legislative session

GOP fissures and abortion rights item could usher in new Missouri legislative era

Bill Eigel’s abrasive speeches upended the Missouri Senate. Will GOP voters approve?