Justices block Missouri congressional map again
The Supreme Court blocked Missouri from using its Republican-drawn congressional map in the midterm election. The justices said the Eighth Circuit erred by letting the map proceed after voting had begun, despite two earlier Supreme Court orders in the case. It was the third time the high court intervened in the dispute.
The dispute involved a statewide referendum effort led by Richard von Glahn. Organizers asked the justices late Tuesday to intervene before the GOP-leaning map could take effect. They wanted clarity on whether earlier Supreme Court orders already barred the Eighth Circuit’s action, or a new block if not.
Absentee voting under the 2022 map had already started Tuesday. The Eighth Circuit had allowed the newly drawn map to proceed after ballots were cast. In a per curiam opinion, the justices said their two prior orders made the error unsurprising and warned that switching maps mid-election would cause chaos.
The ruling could affect Missouri voters, election workers, candidates, and parties by settling which congressional map applies during active voting. It may reduce confusion for absentee voters whose ballots were cast under the 2022 map. Candidates and local officials could still face uncertainty if further litigation follows. More broadly, the dispute may influence public confidence in how courts and election administrators handle last-minute changes, though its practical reach is likely limited to Missouri’s congressional races.