Overview
- On Tuesday, Aug. 4, Secretary of State Denny Hoskins ruled the referendum petition unconstitutional and refused to certify it for the ballot.
- Hoskins said congressional redistricting cannot be subject to a voter referendum, so the newly drawn Missouri First map remained in effect for the state’s primary elections.
- The petition drive had submitted more than 305,000 signatures that local election officials verified as exceeding the threshold needed for a ballot challenge.
- People Not Politicians and allied groups said they will seek expedited judicial review, likely starting in Cole County and expected to move quickly through appeals.
- The dispute follows the Legislature’s September 2025 redrawing of districts that split Kansas City and altered the 5th District, and it has produced months of litigation with practical consequences for thousands of voters and candidates through November.