Key facts
- Missouri's Republican Secretary of State Denny Hoskins rejected a citizen petition.
- The petition sought a public vote on new congressional districts.
- Hoskins stated that redistricting plans cannot be subject to referendums.
- A Missouri court previously ruled against a referendum effort to overturn redistricting maps.
- The court's ruling allows current gerrymandered maps to remain in effect.
- The maps will be used for the upcoming November elections.
- A group backing the petition plans to challenge Hoskins's decision in court.
Missouri's Republican Secretary of State Denny Hoskins has rejected a citizen petition that aimed to allow the public to vote on new congressional districts. Hoskins asserted that redistricting plans are not eligible for referendums, effectively blocking the petition's path to the ballot. This action comes after a recent ruling by a Missouri court that upheld the state's current Republican-drawn congressional maps. The court's decision means these gerrymandered maps will be used for the upcoming November elections, adding to the complexities faced by election officials. A group that supported the petition plans to contest Secretary Hoskins's decision through legal channels. The ongoing legal disputes highlight the contentious nature of redistricting in Missouri and its impact on electoral processes.