By DAVID A. LIEB

The Associated Press

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missourians gave low-income workers a raise Tuesday, overwhelming passing a ballot measure to boost the state's minimum wage.

The minimum wage increase was supported by nearly three-quarters of the voters, with about half of statewide precincts reporting results.

"The voters have spoken overwhelmingly in support of raising the minimum wage," said Sara Howard, a spokeswoman for the measure's sponsoring group, Give Missourians a Raise. "It sends a clear message to Washington, D.C, and Jefferson City that we need to honor our hardworking people a decent wage."

Proposition B will increase Missouri's minimum wage from the current federal base of $5.15 an hour to $6.50 an hour effective Jan. 1, with an automatic increase each year to keep pace with inflation.

The call for Proposition B in Missouri was based on a number of factors, including voter turnout, previous voting patterns, and a statistical analysis of the vote from voter interviews conducted for The Associated Press by Edison Media Research and Mitofsky International.

Support for the minimum wage increase was widespread. It appeared to be passing in every county, though not all of them had reported results.

A constitutional amendment that would have raised the state cigarette tax was opposed by about 54 percent of voters, with about half the statewide precincts reporting results.

Two lower-profile amendments enjoyed support.

Voters passed an amendment making it easier to raise the salaries of judges, legislators and other elected state officials.

An amendment to ensure veterans' groups don't have to pay property taxes on their buildings was favored by more than 60 percent of voters, with about half the statewide precincts reporting.