Missouri Appeals Court Reviews Election Maps

Current Status of Elections in Missouri

A three-judge panel of the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals is hearing arguments in this long-running dispute over whether the state should use new election maps drawn by Republicans. This comes as Missouri has used these maps in the August primary elections. However, it is unclear what impact it would have even if the panel rules in favor of the new map, as the U.S. Supreme Court has already blocked the implementation of a lower court order that favored the new map.

Read more: Carlton Johnson killed two people and shot at police

Consequences of Changing Maps

Missouri is currently set to hold the November elections using the same election maps that were used in 2024 and 2022. Local election officials stated in a court filing that they are currently printing ballots with these maps and are required under federal law to send absentee ballots to overseas citizens and military voters by Friday. According to state law, absentee ballots must be made available to other voters by Tuesday.

Changing the maps at this time would be very difficult and costly, and according to the Missouri Association of County Clerks and election officials, this would be “practically impossible” and would incur costs in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The battle over changing election maps in Missouri is one of the longest and most complex among about a dozen states that sought to change their election maps last year. Donald Trump fueled this process by urging Republican-led states to reconsider these maps to gain an advantage in the midterm elections that will determine control of Congress.

Read more: Takaichi reshuffled Japan's cabinet to revive public support · Trial for financial corruption of Washington council member begins

Source: abcnews.com