Amendment Summary: "Constitutional Amendment 8 on Missouri's November ballot would amend the state constitution to allow the legislature to legalize raffles and sweepstakes by religious and charitable organizations.
Religious and charitable organizations can already sponsor bingo games.
Additionally, Amendment 8 permits the General Assembly to develop a framework of standards and regulations to ensure organizations do award the prizes from the raffles and sweepstakes.
Sponsored by Rep. May Scheve, D-St. Louis County, the amendment clarifies that any person participating in the nonprofit lotteries must be 18 years or older.
Missouri's Constitution, under its present wording, is interpreted to allow only three forms of gambling in the state: the Missouri Lottery, charitable bingo and riverboat gambling. If passed, Amendment 8 would be the fourth exception to the state's ban on gambling."
Source for Popular Vote data: Missouri Secretary of State. Official Election Returns, State of Missouri General Election, Tuesday, November 03, 1998, Missouri Secretary of State (http://www.sos.mo.gov/enrweb/raceresults.asp?eid=6&oid=1538&arc=1) (accessed 12 Apr 2007)