Missouri

"As a former Naval officer and current Missouri Voter, I support Better Elections / Top-4 Open Primaries because I think it would lead to elections where the candidates who win are ones who appeal to a broader range of the electorate."

"More choice in candidates will be a force multiplier. It will draw more voters into the electoral process. It will allow new ideas to be heard. It will broaden the debate from two views into many. Getting more voices heard will enrich our country."

“As a Navy veteran and proud independent voter, I am tired of choosing between the lesser of two evils. In every industry, other than politics, we love healthy competition. Our two-party political system is a classic "duopoly"; and, the lack of healthy competition in over 80% of our elections is leading to terrible incentives and terrible results - political grandstanding, partisan gridlock and toxic dysfunction. I support the Better Elections MO Ballot Amendment  because more choices give me the opportunity to find leaders who are truly in line with my point of view and who will be incentivized to solve problems and lead in a way that benefits all of their constituents, not only the most extreme partisan minority."

"As a Missouri native, a lawyer who has practiced law in Missouri for more than three decades, and as the independent candidate for the United States Senate in 2018, I support the ballot initiative for Top-4 Open Primaries + Ranked Choice Voting in the General. This innovation will increase competition in our political process. And it will empower moderate candidates of the two primary political parties as well as candidates unaffiliated with any party by placing all candidates on a more equal footing. We know in the private sector we get a better product and better service when we introduce competition to the industry. The same is true for our political process. It will attract higher quality candidates to the process, which we need."

"For the past several election cycles, I have often found myself having to choose between the lesser of two evils in November. I firmly believe that the process and choices provided by this proposal will result in the election of leaders who better reflect the will of the people!"

"Let’s be real: We can do better. If the current primary system doesn’t bring out the worst in people, it brings out the worst people to serve us. I’m a veteran and chaired the Missouri Veterans Commission until politicians and politics undermined the mission and integrity of the Commission itself. You get what you tolerate, and it’s time to stop tolerating people who seek office to be celebrities or to fuel their ego. Better Elections / Top-4 Open Primaries will be a start to smoking out those who don’t want to represent the Citizens."

"Frustration with the current political status quo that selects candidates based upon the special interests of a minority of either party and then cannot fathom why representatives who were chosen based upon their combativeness can't work together to accomplish anything. I also have a lot of concerns about the political situation that my children will one day inherit. We have normalized ridiculous, incompetent, and irresponsible behavior all in the name of "owning" or "slamming" the opposing party. I think we should change this status quo."

"What excites me the most about volunteering for the VAV is making real change locally over time. I think most people are well intentioned and want to make a difference, they just don't know where to start, or don't believe their opinion really matters in the grand scheme."

"What excites me about VAV is becoming a part of a needed grass roots movement of promoting the innovation of our electoral system. This movement can lead to a less polarizing political atmosphere and bringing unity to the country."