US appeals court hears Missouri district dispute — The Hill
In Missouri, United States, a three-judge panel of the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals on September 17 heard arguments in a dispute over the map of congressional districts. The central question was whether district boundaries can be changed when the state is already preparing to send out ballots, The Hill reports.
Supreme Court’s temporary decision
State election officials continue to use a map that gives the Republican Party a 6–2 advantage. This came after the US Supreme Court last week, on an emergency basis, blocked a new districting plan with a 7–1 split in favor of Republicans from taking effect.
The Supreme Court’s decision left in force the Missouri Supreme Court’s conclusion that the new map cannot be used before a referendum is held in the general election. The new boundaries had already been used during the primaries. Missouri Republicans adopted the plan last year, hoping to gain another seat in the House of Representatives. It eliminated the Kansas City district represented by Democrat Emanuel Cleaver.
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Parties’ positions in court
Attorney Charles Hatfield, representing a Democratic Party-affiliated organizer challenging the map, said it was already too late to change it because the ballots had been printed. Judge David Stras asked the parties when the point comes after which there is no turning back.
A separate federal lawsuit was filed by House of Representatives member Bob Onder, a Republican from Missouri. He sought to prevent the state from returning to the previous map. Federal District Judge Stephen Clark had previously ruled that implementation of the new plan should continue to avoid voter confusion, but the US Supreme Court suspended that ruling.
Missouri Solicitor General Louis Capozzi, representing Secretary of State Denny Hoskins, urged the appeals court to end what he described as the paralysis of the redistricting process. He argues that state courts’ interpretation of referendum rules contradicts the US Constitution and limits the authority of state lawmakers to administer elections. The final deadline for preparing ballots has already passed, and ballots for military and overseas voters are due to begin being sent on Saturday.
