Group: Missouri court critics missed signature target

JEFFERSON CITY — Critics of an initiative to require partisan elections for all Missouri judges say it does not appear the proposal's backers collected enough signatures to qualify for the ballot.

To make the ballot, organizers must collect signatures equal to 8 percent of the votes cast in the 2008 governor's election from six of Missouri's nine congressional districts. Those signatures had to be submitted to the secretary of state's office earlier this month.

Opponents of the measure say their analysis shows too few signatures in five congressional districts. They say a sixth district also likely fell short. The opponents obtained the submitted signatures under Missouri's open-records law.

The ballot measure's backers contend they have enough signatures.