ACLU Tells Judge Missouri Must Halt New Congressional Map or Vote Rights Damaged
The American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri told a Cole County judge on Tuesday that voters’ constitutional rights are being trampled if the state continues without suspending a newly passed congressional map. According to KMIZ, lawyers argued the issue matters now because more than 305,000 signatures have been submitted to challenge the map, and candidates must soon know which districts they will run in.
ACLU attorneys say conflict is sharp: the legislature enacted a mid-decade redistricting map in special session, but voters seek a referendum that should automatically halt that law under Missouri’s Constitution. The stakes are high as candidate filing for the 2026 elections is scheduled for late February.
In court, the organization representing two Kansas City voters asked for a preliminary injunction or expedited trial to pause House Bill 1, which created the contested map. The ACLU argues the constitutional “freeze” triggered by submitting enough signatures to petition the law should block it until voters can approve or reject the measure.
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But the Missouri Attorney General’s Office and the group Put Missouri First are seeking dismissal, claiming the suspension does not occur until signatures are validated by the secretary of state. The attorney general’s office has called the idea that the map is “frozen” a false narrative.
“Missouri voters of the state, we have the right to referendum, and that’s the interest that is being infringed upon right here,” ACLU policy director Tori Schafer said.
The disagreement underscores uncertainty about which map applies for upcoming elections and could affect candidate filing and voter information if not resolved soon. A bench trial is scheduled for 9 a.m. Feb. 18. The court’s decision may determine whether the map stays in place during the referendum process. According to ABC 17 News, confusion over district boundaries has already been reported by some voters.
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