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Missouri voters moved one step closer to having the opportunity to decide on raising the state's minimum wage to $15 an hour.

The group leading this effort announced that they have submitted almost twice the number of signatures required.

Missouri's Push for Minimum Wage Increase

The proposed ballot measure supported by Missouri Jobs with Justice aims to increase the minimum wage from its current rate of $12.30 per hour to $13.75 per hour next year, and eventually to $15 per hour by 2026.

A significant number of voter signatures, exceeding the required threshold of 100,000, have been submitted by Missouri Jobs with Justice for citizen-driven amendments to Missouri law, according to FOX News.

The office of Jay Ashcroft, a Republican Secretary of State, now needs to ascertain the validity of approximately 115,000 or so.

"We are optimistic that voters will have a chance to support this significant initiative in the upcoming fall," stated Caitlyn Adams, the executive director of Missouri Jobs with Justice Voter Action.

Missouri voters have consistently shown their support for increases in the minimum wage. In 2017, the Legislature, led by Republicans, prevented St. Louis and Kansas City from increasing wages within their cities.

However, in 2018, voters across the state approved a hike in the minimum wage.

Minimum Wage Climbs with Inflation

According to the plan, the minimum wage gradually increased by 85 cents per year until reaching $12 in 2023. Salaries increased once more this year due to automatic adjustments linked to inflation.

In addition to the latest proposal, there is a provision that mandates paid sick leave for workers. AP reported that under the measure, employees who are currently not guaranteed sick days would earn an hour of paid leave for every 30 hours worked.

Smaller businesses would need to provide a minimum of five paid sick days annually, while larger companies would be obligated to offer at least seven paid sick days.