Mo. Rev. Stat. » Chapter 116
Missouri Revised Statutes

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 116.010 (2026)

Definitions

✓ current as of May 2026
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  116.010.  Definitions. — As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates,

  (1)  "County" means any one of the several counties of this state or the city of St. Louis;

  (2)  "Election authority" means a county clerk or board of election commissioners, as established by section 115.015;

  (3)  "General election" means the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in even-numbered years;

  (4)  "Official ballot title" means the summary statement and fiscal note summary prepared for all statewide ballot measures in accordance with the provisions of this chapter which shall be placed on the ballot and, when applicable, shall be the petition title for initiative or referendum petitions;

  (5)  "Statewide ballot measure" means a constitutional amendment submitted by initiative petition, the general assembly or a constitutional convention; a statutory measure submitted by initiative or referendum petition; the question of holding a constitutional convention; and a constitution proposed by a constitutional convention;

  (6)  "Voter" means a person registered to vote in accordance with section 115.151.

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(L. 1980 S.B. 658, A.L. 1997 S.B. 132)

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 13 cases (5 in the last 5 years), 2006–2025 · leading case: State Ex Rel. Humane Soc'y of Missouri v. Beetem, 317 S.W.3d 669 (Mo. Ct. App. 2010).
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State Ex Rel. Humane Soc'y of Missouri v. Beetem, 317 S.W.3d 669 (Mo. Ct. App. 2010). · cites it 2× “3 § 116.010(4). The summary statement describing the initiative must not exceed 100 words and “shall be in the form of a question using language neither intentionally argumentative nor likely to create prejudice either for or against the proposed measure.”
Missourians Against Human Cloning v. Carnahan, 190 S.W.3d 451 (Mo. Ct. App. 2006). · cites it 4× “§ 116.010(4). [3] After initiative proponents submit a proposed petition and the Secretary of State and Attorney General approve it as to form, § 116.”
Hill v. Ashcroft, 526 S.W.3d 299 (Mo. Ct. App. 2017). · cites it 2× “Section 116.010(4) sets forth the requirements of the ballot title, which includes the summary statement and a fiscal note summary.”
Cures Without Cloning v. Pund, 259 S.W.3d 76 (Mo. Ct. App. 2008). · cites it 2× “[2] § 116.010(4). Once an initiative proposal is submitted to the Secretary and the Attorney General and approved as to form, the Secretary must prepare a summary statement of the initiative, not to exceed 100 words.”
Knight v. Carnahan, 282 S.W.3d 9 (Mo. Ct. App. 2009). “The "Official ballot title” includes: [T]he summary statement and fiscal note summary prepared for all statewide ballot measures in accordance with the provisions of this chapter which shall be placed on the ballot and, when applicable, shall be the petition title for initiative…”
Prentzler v. Carnahan, 366 S.W.3d 557 (Mo. Ct. App. 2012). “An official ballot title consists of a summary statement of the initiative petition and a summary of the initiative’s fiscal note.”
Jim Boeving v. Missouri Sec'y of State Jason Kander Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway, Raise Your Hand For Kids & Erin Brower, 493 S.W.3d 865 (Mo. Ct. App. 2016). “” On January 5, 2016, the Secretary of State certified the official ballot title for the petition. An official ballot title consists of a summary statement prepared by the Secretary of State, as well as a fiscal note summary prepared by the State Auditor.”
Archey v. Carnahan, 373 S.W.3d 528 (Mo. Ct. App. 2012). · cites it 2× “190 provides a means for citizens to challenge the language of an official ballot title or fiscal note in circuit court.”
Raymond McCarty v. Missouri Sec'y of State (Mo. 2025). · cites it 4× “Section 116.010(4). The ballot title is composed of the summary statement and the fiscal note summary.”
Quinton Lucas v. Missouri Sec'y of State John R. Ashcroft & Missouri State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick (Mo. 2024). · cites it 3× “§ 116.010(4). The first part of the ballot title is a summary statement of the measure in the form of a question, which is prepared by the secretary of state (or the general assembly may do so when it proposes the constitutional amendment).”
No Bans on Choice, Am. Civil Liberties Union of Missouri, & Sara E. Baker v. John R. Ashcroft, in his Off. capacity as Missouri Sec'y of State (Mo. 2022). · cites it 2× “Sections 116.010(4), 116.180. In sum, it may take up to 51 days from the time the proponent first submits the proposed petition until the official ballot title is certified.”
No Bans on Choice, Am. Civil Liberties Union of Missouri, & Sara E. Baker v. John R. Ashcroft, in his Off. capacity as Missouri Sec'y of State (Mo. 2022). · cites it 2× “Sections 116.010(4), 116.180. In sum, it may take up to 51 days from the time the proponent first submits the proposed petition until the official ballot title is certified.”
Show all 13 citing cases →
— Mo. Rev. Stat. § 116.010(4) — 13 cases
State Ex Rel. Humane Soc'y of Missouri v. Beetem, 317 S.W.3d 669 (Mo. Ct. App. 2010). “3 § 116.010(4). The summary statement describing the initiative must not exceed 100 words and “shall be in the form of a question using language neither intentionally argumentative nor likely to create prejudice either for or against the proposed measure.”
Missourians Against Human Cloning v. Carnahan, 190 S.W.3d 451 (Mo. Ct. App. 2006). “§ 116.010(4). [3] After initiative proponents submit a proposed petition and the Secretary of State and Attorney General approve it as to form, § 116.”
Hill v. Ashcroft, 526 S.W.3d 299 (Mo. Ct. App. 2017). “Section 116.010(4) sets forth the requirements of the ballot title, which includes the summary statement and a fiscal note summary.”
Cures Without Cloning v. Pund, 259 S.W.3d 76 (Mo. Ct. App. 2008). “[2] § 116.010(4). Once an initiative proposal is submitted to the Secretary and the Attorney General and approved as to form, the Secretary must prepare a summary statement of the initiative, not to exceed 100 words.”
Knight v. Carnahan, 282 S.W.3d 9 (Mo. Ct. App. 2009). “The "Official ballot title” includes: [T]he summary statement and fiscal note summary prepared for all statewide ballot measures in accordance with the provisions of this chapter which shall be placed on the ballot and, when applicable, shall be the petition title for initiative…”
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