The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals’ ruling could disrupt the state’s election process that is underway by reverting orders to a map that the Supreme Courts of the state and nation have blocked. In a decision late Monday, the court also issued a seven-day pause on its order, to allow the U.S. Supreme Court to step in. The nation’s highest court twice rejected attempts by the state to use the 2025 gerrymandered map known as HB.1. This latest appeals court ruling, however, involves two candidates who are affected by the change of maps. The 8th Circuit says in this case, the state’s current plan to use a different map than the one used in the August party primary violates the U.S. Constitution.
READ the 8th District Court ruling
People Not Politicians Missouri immediately responded that it is filing an appeal to the 8th Circuit’s ruling, and then the U.S. Supreme Court.
Richard von Glahn, Executive Director of People Not Politicians Missouri, released the following statement:
“Everyone is aligned on what is true. HB 1 is not the law and cannot be the law unless voters ratify it. The Supreme Court of Missouri, the United States Supreme Court, the Missouri Attorney General, Missouri Secretary of State and People Not Politicians all have agreed on this. Ballots have been printed, and Missourians have already voted. Thousands more will vote before this order seeks to take effect. Officials should stop wasting taxpayers’ money on pointless legal action and instead focus on administering our elections. Missourians are already voting and will continue to vote no on Proposition A through November 3.”
Candidate Rick Brattin, one of the appellants in the lawsuit, commented on social media:
County elections officials had begun emailing ballots per orders of the Missouri Supreme Court, though Tuesday, September 22 is the deadline to mail hard copies of requested absentee ballots.