Louis Capozzi

The disagreement over whether Missouri’s new congressional map is in effect or frozen is at the heart of a bitter dispute in federal court between the state attorney general’s office and lawyers for the referendum campaign.

Missouri lawmakers in 2022 passed a sweeping elections bill that included a photo ID requirement to vote and limitations on registering voters. Challenges to both provisions were heard at the Missouri Supreme in separate cases.

Attorneys for the plaintiffs said the Missouri Constitution is clear that redistricting can only be done after a certified census, while the defense said nothing prohibits mid-decade redistricting.