A U.S. District Court in Missouri is expediting a lawsuit over how many signatures are needed to place local initiatives on the ballot in certain cities. The case is being expedited because the election is scheduled for April 3, 2012.

Missouri state law says a local initiative needs signatures equal to 25% of the last Mayoral vote. But in Poplar Bluff, voters don’t elect Mayors directly. Voters merely vote for city councilmembers, and they choose a Mayor. City officials determined that because there is no direct popular vote for Mayor, initiatives need 25% of the number of registered voters in Poplar Bluff. Proponents of an initiative sued because they say the number of signatures should be 25% of all the votes cast for City Council. Proponents of an initiative did collect enough valid signatures, if their theory of how to calculate the requirement is accepted. The case is Rexroat v City of Poplar Bluff, eastern district, 1:11-cv-224. Here is the complaint. The ACLU is handling the case.

The initiative concerns city-provided cable TV services. The city government is clearly hostile to the initiative. The city’s web page has a prominent place on the opening page, explaining how residents may delete their signatures from the petition. Thanks to Nate Carraw for this news.