Voters have sent resounding messages to Missouri and national elected officials about what they do not want to see continued here and in the halls of Congress.
Accountability must now be the driving force of the electorate.
Voters will not:
- Tolerate higher costs for families and industries caused by unpredictable tariffs and a questionable war with no end in sight.
- Be continually subjected to an atmosphere of toxicity and hopelessness fueled by brazen acts of disrespect for laws, traditions and institutions that have long defined America.
- Continue to support elected officials who fail to fulfill their duties by not addressing the conditions we face; or
- Be denied the very foundation of participatory democracy — the right to cast their votes.
Voters clearly conveyed, whether voting for state or congressional lawmakers, that they have had enough.
Did all elected officials really hear voters and understand the significance of the turnout?
Did many of the returning elected officials, and those not on the ballot, clearly understand what they need to do — and what they need to change — moving forward?
Most importantly, are they willing to do it?
Though this was a historic rebuke of what is going on in our government on multiple levels, it is not the first time.
What is different about this time that will cause officeholders to act differently, or will they simply resort to doing business as usual?
Missouri election results sent strong messages to lawmakers. Voters clearly sent the message that amendments and propositions passed by a majority of voters should stand and be implemented. Legislators are not to ignore, change or totally undo them as they have repeatedly done.
In recent years, Missouri lawmakers have gone to extreme measures to undo the will of voters when it comes to access to abortion and reproductive care, minimum wage and paid sick leave, the drawing of congressional districts and preserving the citizen initiative petition process.
Missouri voters also changed the makeup of the legislative chambers. There is no longer a Republican supermajority in either chamber after more than a decade.
Will returning lawmakers believe what voters are telling them, or will they choose to believe that their actions and agenda are not the problem?
Worst of all, will they continue to pursue a personal agenda or that of their funders or special interest groups?
When the Missouri Legislature convenes in January, a change in behavior remains to be seen.
Will newly elected lawmakers be able to propose, negotiate, compromise and work with veteran lawmakers to achieve the policy changes voters sent them to accomplish?
How can we, as voting citizens, work to bring about the changes we voted for?
The overriding need now is accountability.
We must remain engaged and hold the people we voted for accountable for carrying out the responsibilities of their offices and keeping the promises they have made.
First, we can pay close attention to what lawmakers in Jefferson City and Washington are saying and doing. We must be ever vigilant and ask whether their words and actions are consistent with the policy priorities and needs of their constituents and the promises they made that earned our votes.
If not, make your concerns known before undesirable legislation begins to move through the approval process and becomes law.
In Missouri, there are many channels available to track proposed bills and pending legislation before and after the Legislature convenes in January.
We can follow actions taking place in Congress as well. There are multiple sources available.
We can also stay in contact with our representatives in Washington online and through their local offices.
If city and county issues are most important to you, there are multiple convenient ways to convey your concerns to your elected representatives.
When the excitement or disappointment of the sea change — or tsunami, as many have labeled it — subsides, the responsibility for realizing the needed changes will only intensify.
Making sure those changes needed to fix our government occur will be left up to us.
Leaving it to elected officials alone is not a good option.
We must be ever watchful and hold them accountable.
If the past is prologue, and it often is, we can afford nothing less.
Janice Ellis is a columnist for the Missouri Independent.