U.S.Court order
Supreme Court stays Eighth Circuit order requiring Missouri to use 2025 congressional redistricting map
The Supreme Court of the United States granted an emergency application for a stay in People Not Politicians v. Onder, blocking lower federal court orders that required Missouri to use a 2025 congressional redistricting map in the 2026 elections. The per curiam order held under the Purcell principle that federal courts cannot alter election rules while voting is actively underway, and reaffirmed that the state must conduct elections under its 2022 map.
Order (Supreme Court of the United States) → · SCOTUSblog, NPR, Democracy Docket
Key points
- The order stayed the Eighth Circuit's September 21 mandate and district court injunctions requiring use of the 2025 map.Supreme Court of the United States
- The Court emphasized that ballots were already mailed and absentee and military voting had commenced under the 2022 map.Supreme Court of the United StatesSCOTUSblog
- The justices held the Eighth Circuit misapplied Purcell by blaming the Missouri Supreme Court, because states may adjust election rules.Supreme Court of the United States
- County election officials submitted an amicus brief stating it was practically impossible to revert to the 2025 map mid-election.Supreme Court of the United StatesDemocracy Docket
- SCOTUSblog noted this was the third time in under a month the justices rejected emergency requests over Missouri redistricting.SCOTUSblog
Sources4 articles across 4 outlets
Democracy Docket
NPR
SCOTUSblog
Supreme Court of the United States