IN THE COUNTY LEGISLATURE OF JACKSON COUNTY, MISSOURI
Title
AN ORDINANCE submitting to the qualified voters of Jackson County, Missouri, at the general election to be held on November 8, 2022, an advisory referendum question asking whether section 188.017 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri, which bans abortion at any stage of pregnancy without exception for rape or incest, should be repealed to ensure safe and legal access to abortion.
Intro
ORDINANCE NO. 5656, August 22, 2022
INTRODUCED BY Jalen Anderson and Crystal Williams, County Legislators
Body
WHEREAS, on June 24, 2022, the United States Supreme Court made the devastating decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, eliminating people’s constitutional right to access a safe and legal abortion; and,
WHEREAS, given this reversal of a fifty-year precedent, individual states now dictate access to abortion care; and,
WHEREAS, section 188.017 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri bans abortion at any stage of pregnancy without exception for rape or incest; and,
WHEREAS, by Resolution 21007, dated July 18, 2022, the Legislature has previously expressed its support of abortion rights; and,
WHEREAS, the Legislature finds it critical that the voters of Jackson County be afforded an opportunity to express their opinions on this important issue; now therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED by the Legislature of Jackson County, Missouri, as follows:
Section 1. Pursuant to the provisions of article II, sections 16.12 and 16.37 of the 2018 Constitutional Home Rule Charter of Jackson County, there is hereby submitted to the qualified voters of Jackson County, Missouri, at the general election to be held on November 8, 2022, an advisory referendum question asking whether section 188.017 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri, which bans abortion at any stage of pregnancy without exception for rape or incest, be repealed to ensure safe and legal access to abortion.
Section 2. The qualified voters at said election shall vote by ballot and the ballots to be used at said election shall contain the following language:
JACKSON COUNTY, MISSOURI
QUESTION # 2
GENERAL ELECTION
NOVEMBER 8, 2022
OFFICIAL BALLOT
Should section 188.017 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri, which bans abortion at any stage of pregnancy without exception for rape or incest, be repealed to ensure safe and legal access to abortion.
YES
NO
If you are in favor of the question, place an “x” in the box opposite “Yes.” If you are opposed to the question, place an “x” in the box opposite “No.”
Section 3. The Clerk of the Legislature is hereby authorized and directed to notify the Jackson County and Kansas City Boards of Election Commissioners of the adoption of this Ordinance no later than 5:00 p.m. on August 30, 2022, and to include in said notification all of the terms and provisions required by § 115.125, RSMo 2016.
Enacted and Approved
Effective Date: This ordinance shall be effective immediately upon its signature by the County Executive.
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
______________________________ ________________________________
Chief Deputy County Counselor County Counselor
I hereby certify that the attached ordinance, Ordinance No. 5656 introduced on August 22, 2022, was defeated on August 29, 2022 by the Jackson County Legislature. The votes thereon were as follows:
Yeas ______4_________ Nays ______1________
Abstaining _____2______ Absent _____2________
This Ordinance is hereby transmitted to the County Executive for his signature.
____________________ ________________________________
Date Mary Jo Spino, Clerk of Legislature
I hereby approve the attached Ordinance No. 5656.
____________________ ________________________________
Date Frank White, Jr., County Executive