Sheriffs in focus on Amendment 8

Another item voters will be asked to cast their vote for or against is Constitutional Amendment No. 8.
This measure deals with the election of county sheriffs in the state constitution.
A “Yes” vote preserves the right of citizens to elect a county sheriff and prohibits the removal of one except by a writ of quo warrant.
It also recognizes the office of the sheriff as part of the administration of justice.
The “Yes” vote would require counties to elect a sheriff every four years, which is currently in the state statue.
This measure also provides provisions regarding a sheriffs duties that are currently provided by the statue and provides that an elected sheriff may be removed from office only in an initiative from the Attorney General’s office.
So basically the difference is that a “Yes” vote removes the county prosecutors from the process of removing a sheriff from office.
The Missouri Republican Party encourages a “Yes” vote.
The Missouri Democrat Party is asking voters to cast a “No” vote.