Missouri Religion Amendment Moved To August Ballot

The St.Louis Post Dispatch reported last week that Missouri Governor Jay Nixon, a Democrat, has decided that a proposed state constitutional amendment (full text) that guarantees the right to pray and express religious views on public property and in schools will be voted on in the August 7 primary election rather than the November general elections.  The legislative resolution proposing the amendment provided that it should appear on the ballot either in November or in a special election called by the governor.  Apparently the governor's timing was motivated by the likelihood that the amendment will attract social conservatives (mostly Republicans) to the polls, and would thus benefit the Republicans in the general election of it were on the November ballot. Wall of Separation also reports on the governor's move. (See prior related posting.)