A Missouri lawmaker wants organizers of initiative petitions to collect signatures from all of the state's congressional districts before their measures go on ballots.

Initiative petition campaigns are currently required to get signatures from a percentage of voters in six of the state's nine congressional districts. Hartville Republican Tony Dugger is proposing an amendment to the Missouri Constitution to change that requirement.

Dugger told a House panel Tuesday that the current process allows initiative petitions to go to the ballot without signatures from rural congressional districts.

Initiative petition organizers say requiring signatures from all districts would greatly increase the number of signatures campaigns have to gather, making it harder to submit petitions.

The proposed amendment would have to be approved by voters if it passes the House and Senate.

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