Missouri election officials are facing uncertainty ahead of the November midterm election as state and federal courts have issued conflicting rulings on which congressional map should be used.
The Missouri Supreme Court has ruled that the state’s 2025 congressional map cannot take effect while a voter referendum challenge is pending. However, a federal judge has temporarily ordered the state to use the newer map, leaving local election authorities caught between competing directives.
Boone County Clerk Brianna Lennon told Missourinet that election officials are waiting for guidance from the courts.
“There’s been an emergency appeal filed on that district court case to try to remove the temporary restraining order so that we can have some certainty,” Lennon said. “But right now we have competing directives from two different courts, one that says to use the old maps and one that says not to use the old maps.”
The uncertainty comes as election officials prepare ballots and work to meet upcoming deadlines required under state and federal law.
“The military and overseas voters, they have to have their ballot by September 18th,” Lennon said. “The regular absentee voting period starts on September 22nd, so we will need to have ballots available.”
Lennon said local election authorities are seeking clarity through an emergency appeal but currently do not have a definitive answer about which congressional districts will appear on November ballots.
The ongoing legal dispute has also raised questions about whether ballots could change after absentee voting begins. Missouri law generally prohibits changes to ballots within eight weeks of an election, a deadline that passed Tuesday, but federal court action could still affect the situation.
“There is a margin of a possibility that the ballot could change after absentee voting starts if the federal court decides to issue an injunction or a removal of an injunction after that period,” Lennon said.
Meanwhile, Secretary of State Denny Hoskins has been ordered to appear before the Missouri Supreme Court on Thursday to explain why he should not be held in contempt after directing election officials to use the 2025 congressional map despite the court’s earlier injunction.
Lennon said the continuing court battle has left election officials focused on one goal: obtaining certainty before key election deadlines arrive.
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