With Election Day coming up next Tuesday, August 4, Pathways encourages our staff, participants, partners, and community members across Missouri to make a plan to vote.
Structural changes to state law and public funding directly influence health services, human services, and non-profit support across Missouri. Below is an overview of both proposals to help you understand what will be on your ballot next week.
Amendment 4: Process for Citizen-Initiated Amendments
What the Proposal Does
Under current Missouri law, a citizen-initiated constitutional amendment passes if it receives a simple majority of votes statewide. Amendment 4 would change this requirement. A citizen-led constitutional measure would need a statewide majority vote and a separate majority vote in each of Missouri’s eight congressional districts.
Impact on the Disability Community and Community Advocacy
For the disability community, statewide ballot measures serve as a key mechanism to address accessibility, health services, and community living standards. Amendment 4 alters the approval process for future citizen-led constitutional amendments. If approved, organizing constitutional campaigns would require significant campaign structures across all eight congressional districts simultaneously.
Amendment 5: Individual State Income Tax / Sales and Use Tax
What the Proposal Does
Amendment 5 would amend the Missouri Constitution to require the legislature to gradually eliminate the state individual income tax as state revenue grows over time. In fiscal year 2027, the income tax is estimated to generate $7.8 billion, accounting for roughly 57% of Missouri’s flexible general revenue fund. General revenue serves as the main source of state funding for public education and social services.
To replace lost income tax revenue, Amendment 5 grants lawmakers authority to adjust Missouri’s sales and use tax framework. This authority allows lawmakers to raise the statewide sales tax rate. It also allows them to expand sales taxes to goods and services that are currently untaxed, such as home repairs, vehicle maintenance, or personal care services.
Direct Impact on Non-Profits, Donors, and Our Services
Beyond broader state budget considerations, Amendment 5 carries specific operational implications for safety-net providers like Pathways:
- Funding for essential community services: State general revenue directly supports public funding streams, including Medicaid reimbursements, behavioral health grants, and disability support programs. Changes to the state’s primary funding sources require ongoing monitoring to ensure essential community services remain fully funded.
- Impact on state charitable tax credits: Many Missouri non-profits rely on donor incentive programs to fund daily operations. For example, eligible donors to Pathways can currently receive a Missouri Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP) state tax credit worth 50% of their contribution. Because NAP credits directly offset state income tax liability and cannot be sold or transferred, eliminating the state income tax would remove the primary financial mechanism that incentivizes these charitable donations.
Take Action: Vote Early or Vote Next Tuesday!
1. Check your registration and polling location: Confirm your polling location and view your sample ballot before next Tuesday using the Missouri Secretary of State Voter Registration Lookup.
2. Know what to bring: A valid government-issued photo ID such as a Missouri driver’s license, a non-driver ID, or a U.S. passport.
3. Decide how you want to vote:
- Vote early (In-Person No-Excuse Absentee Voting is open now!): You do not have to wait until Tuesday. Any registered Missouri voter can vote early in person right now through Monday, August 3 with no excuse required.
- Vote on election day: Polls are open Tuesday, August 4, from 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM.
- Where to go: Check hours and locations through the MO Secretary of State Election Authority Directory.
Crucial Voting Schedule:
- Now through Monday, August 3: In-Person No-Excuse Absentee (Early) Voting Open
- Next Tuesday, August 4: Election Day (Polls open 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM)
Your Vote Matters
Decisions made at the ballot box shape our state’s future. Our goal is to share clear information about how state policy decisions interact with community services, public funding, and local non-profits. We encourage every eligible voter to consider the details and vote according to their personal values next Tuesday.