Missouri Amendment 8 passes in the 2026 Midterm Elections

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) -- Missouri Amendment 8, the amendment that would enshrine the election of county sheriffs in the state constitution, largely locking in current practice while naming the sheriff as chief law enforcement officer, spelling out duties, and shifting removal proceedings to the attorney general has passed.

Amendment 8 is about county sheriffs. Sheriffs are already elected to four-year terms under state law, this would mostly lock in current practice. It would also name the sheriff as the top law enforcement officer and spell out duties like keeping the peace, catching criminals, and attending circuit court.

It would also change how a sheriff can be removed: instead of county prosecutors, only the attorney general could start removal proceedings.

Buchanan County voted in favor of the Amendment with 56.84% (13,680 voters) of the vote. While 43.16% (10,388 voters) voted against Amendment 7.

The state of Missouri voted in favor of the Amendment, with 50.99% (1,053,346) of voters saying yes and 49.01% (1,012,534) voting no against the Amendment.

What comes next, electing a county sheriff every four years would become a constitutional requirement in most of Missouri, locking in current practice and spelling out the sheriff's duties in the constitution.

The biggest change would be removal, only the attorney general could initiate proceedings to remove a sheriff, taking that power away from county prosecutors. St. Louis City, St. Louis County, and St. Charles County would be exempt.