Missouri constitution

Secretary of State Denny Hoskins said he would not stop election officials from placing a referendum on the ballot — or running the Nov. 3 election on an older congressional map. He tried, but failed, to get the Missouri Supreme Court to stay its ruling on Friday.

The Missouri Supreme Court ruled that the state's voters will decide the fate of a plan aimed at ousting Democratic Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II.

The Missouri Supreme Court heard arguments Wednesday on a trio of cases on referendums, including whether residents can vote on a congressional map. If it allows the measure to move forward for November, it could put in jeopardy Republicans’ plan to push out Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II.

Missouri's highest court will hear arguments Wednesday over whether voters can challenge the congressional map, with decades of constitutional rulings offering clues to how the judges may approach the case. Republicans have prevailed in every case around gerrymandering so far.

In November, Missourians will be asked whether they want to repeal the abortion rights amendment they approved in 2024 and reinstate an abortion ban. Unions and reproductive rights groups already worked together to defeat Amendments 4 and 5 in the August election.

Attorney General Catherine Hanaway defended her support for withholding Amendment 6 and a vote on Missouri's gerrymandered congressional map from the November ballot. There is no exception in the constitution prohibiting a referendum on redistricting — but there's no explicit permission either.

The state's highest court will hear arguments over two consequential initiatives on Sept. 2, just days before the deadline to finalize the November ballot. A circuit court judge ruled both proposals were unconstitutional.

Delivering his decision just a few hours after conducting a trial, Cole County Circuit Judge Daniel Green ruled that the Missouri Constitution does not allow referendums on congressional redistricting. However, the Missouri Supreme Court will likely be the final say in the case.

Secretary of State Denny Hoskins had blocked the Respect Missouri Voters initiative, saying it had too many subjects and constrained the legislature's power. A Cole County judge agreed, keeping the measure off the November ballot.

Earlier this month, Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins rejected a proposed referendum on the congressional redistricting map state lawmakers passed last year.

Secretary of State Denny Hoskins rejected a proposed constitutional amendment that would make it harder to overturn voter-approved initiatives, saying the measure is unconstitutional.

Trials this week will determine whether Amendment 6, which would limit legislative changes to voter-passed initiatives, and a referendum on Missouri’s congressional map will reach the Nov. 3 ballot. Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins rejected both as unconstitutional.