Overview
- A three‑judge panel of the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals heard expedited arguments on Thursday over whether Missouri should use the Republican‑drawn 2025 map or the 2022 map for the November general election.
- The U.S. Supreme Court has stayed a lower federal judge’s order that would have reinstated the 2025 plan, so the 2022 districts remain in effect while the federal appeal moves through the courts.
- The Missouri Supreme Court ruled on Sept. 3 that a valid referendum petition suspended the 2025 law, placing the map on the ballot and returning the 2022 map for use in November under state law.
- Local election officials told the appeals court that federal deadlines require overseas ballots to be mailed by Sept. 18 and that reprinting ballots and reprogramming systems would be practically impossible and costly at this stage.
- The 2025 map was drawn to add a likely Republican House seat by slicing Kansas City’s Democratic base, and the 8th Circuit signaled it will issue a quick ruling that could be appealed back to the U.S. Supreme Court.