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Missouri Judge Orders Revision of Ballot Language on Trump-Backed Redistricting
A Missouri judge has ordered a revised description of a redistricting plan backed by President Trump, deeming the original language unfair. The ruling follows a challenge from opponents who gathered over 300,000 petition signatures to force a referendum on the new congressional districts.
A Missouri state judge has ruled that the ballot proposal for new US House districts must be rewritten. The order came after Missouri's Republican secretary of state admitted to creating a biased summary favouring the new districts by describing the old ones as "gerrymandered". Opponents of the redistricting plan initiated a petition, submitting over 300,000 signatures to trigger a statewide referendum. Election officials are verifying the validity of the signatures. The Missouri Supreme Court is considering a lawsuit challenging the map, arguing that mid-decade redistricting is unconstitutional. Missouri lawmakers approved the new congressional districts in September.
Key Facts
- A Missouri judge ordered a rewrite of the ballot language for a Trump-backed redistricting plan.
- The judge deemed the original description unfair and likely to create bias.
- The Republican secretary of state admitted to crafting the biased summary.
- Opponents of the new map submitted over 300,000 petition signatures seeking a referendum.
- Election officials are verifying the validity of the submitted signatures.
- The Missouri Supreme Court is considering a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the map.
- Missouri lawmakers approved the new congressional districts in September.
- Missouri was the second Republican-led state after Texas to redraw districts following Trump's call.
Primary Source
Research Sources
- thepeterboroughexaminer.com — Missouri judge strikes ballot summary for Trump-backed congressional redistricting plan