GOP lawmakers face legal challenges over attempts to restrict ballot initiatives and hold illegal special election.

Republican-leaning states are restricting citizens' ability to bypass lawmakers through ballot initiatives and constitutional amendments, partly to thwart abortion protections. Ohio is proposing to boost the threshold for passing constitutional amendments to 60% rather than a simple majority and double the number of counties where signatures must be collected. Missouri failed to approve a similar measure, but Republicans vowed to bring the issue back in 2024 to head off a citizens' attempt to restore abortion rights in the state through a constitutional amendment.