Supreme Court Blocks Missouri’s 2025 Congressional Map for November

The U.S. Supreme Court stayed an Eighth Circuit ruling that would have let Missouri use its 2025 congressional map in the November election. Absentee voting had already begun under the 2022 map after the Missouri Supreme Court rejected the newer map. The justices said precedent does not require a state to use its primary map in the general election and that courts should not change election rules close to an election.

Missouri’s August primaries were conducted using the 2025 congressional map, but absentee voting for November began under the 2022 map. The state Supreme Court had ruled that the newer map could not take effect unless voters approved it through a referendum, provided the petition was legally sufficient. The U.S. Supreme Court then stayed an Eighth Circuit decision that would have permitted the 2025 map for the general election.

The justices noted that no court created the situation: Missouri’s secretary of state knew before the primary that using the 2025 map carried significant risks but proceeded anyway. The Supreme Court also said lower federal courts should neither block the 2022 map nor compel use of the 2025 map in the 2026 congressional election.

Count words: first para: Missouri’s(1) August2 primaries3 were4 conducted5 using6 the7 2025(8) congressional9 map10, but11 absentee12 voting13 for14 November15 began16 under17 the18 2022(19) map20. The21 state22 Supreme23 Court24 had25 ruled26 that27 the28 newer29 map30 could31 not32 take33 effect34 unless35 voters36 approved37 it38 through39 a40 referendum41, provided42 the43 petition44 was45 legally46 sufficient47. The48 U.S.49 Supreme50 Court51 then52 stayed53 an54 Eighth55 Circuit56 decision57 that58 would59 have60 permitted61 the62 2025(63) map64 for65 the66 general67 election68. Second: The69 justices70 noted71 that72 no73 court74 created75 the76 situation77: Missouri’s78 secretary79 of80 state81 knew82 before83 the84