COLUMBIA — Missouri voters approved Amendment 8 in Tuesday's primary election, unofficial results published by the Missouri Secretary of State's Office show, requiring the election of county sheriffs to four-year terms in most counties and making it harder to remove sheriffs from office.
The measure narrowly passed with just under 51% of the vote, according to the Missouri Secretary of State's Office.
The amendment defines sheriffs as the chief law enforcement officers in their counties and outlines their responsibilities, including preserving peace, responding to disturbances, apprehending and jailing felons, attending circuit court proceedings, hiring deputies and executing court orders.
Under the amendment, a sheriff can only be removed from office through a writ of quo warranto issued by the attorney general. This is a legal action that challenges a person's right to hold public office.
Currently, circuit attorneys and county prosecutors can initiate a sheriff’s removal from office.
The amendment applies to all Missouri counties except St. Louis City, St. Louis County and St. Charles County.
Most Missouri sheriffs are already elected, but the amendment makes the requirement part of the state constitution.
The amendment was first introduced as Senate Joint Resolution 87, which was approved by the Missouri State Senate in March. The measure was finalized in May.