Lawsuit Seeks Ruling on Missouri Redistricting Referendum Before Primary
Political group files lawsuit demanding Secretary of State decide on congressional map referendum before August primary, citing intimidation of local election officials.
JEFFERSON CITY, MISSOURI — A political action committee filed a lawsuit Monday asking a Cole County judge to force Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins to decide whether a referendum challenging the state’s congressional map qualifies for the November ballot before the August 4 primary election.
The lawsuit, filed by People Not Politicians, accuses Hoskins and Attorney General Catherine Hanaway of “attempting to bully and intimidate local election officials” who are seeking clarity on whether the referendum will appear on the November ballot. The group submitted petitions on December 9 to place the congressional map on the ballot for voters to consider.
Signature Verification Threshold Met
Signature verifications reported to Hoskins’ office indicate the petition has collected enough valid signatures across sufficient districts to meet the constitutional threshold for ballot placement. However, under state law, Hoskins has until August 4 to issue a decision on whether the petition contains sufficient signatures and whether he believes using the referendum power for the congressional map is legally permissible.
Hoskins has stated he intends to use the full time period allowed for his decision, creating uncertainty about the legal status of the primary election. The timing conflict leaves local election officials and voters uncertain about which congressional map will be in effect for the upcoming elections.
Constitutional Challenge Filed
The lawsuit asks Cole County Circuit Judge Daniel Green to declare that laws governing signature verification are unconstitutional as applied to this referendum due to the conflicting dates between the decision deadline and primary election. People Not Politicians argues the delayed decision process undermines the electoral process.
“Defendants are not acting in good faith and are instead intentionally delaying issuance of a certification decision in the hopes of conducting elections under maps they know are not, and cannot be, in legal effect,” the lawsuit states.
Congressional Map Controversy
The referendum targets Missouri’s new congressional district map, which was created to favor Republican candidates. The map has been the subject of ongoing political debate since its implementation, with critics arguing it represents unfair gerrymandering that dilutes voter representation.
Local election officials have requested guidance from the Secretary of State’s office regarding which map to use for candidate filing and ballot preparation. The uncertainty affects not only the November general election but also the preparation and administration of the August primary.
The case will be heard by Cole County Circuit Judge Daniel Green, who will determine whether to compel an earlier decision from Hoskins’ office. A ruling could significantly impact the timeline for Missouri’s upcoming elections and the validity of the current congressional district boundaries.
