More Missouri clerks say they can’t update voter rolls for gerrymandered map

Missouri election officials are blocked from updating voter rolls for a new gerrymandered congressional map due to delays from Secretary of State Denny Hoskins. Clinton Jenkins, president of the Missouri Association of County Clerks and Election Authorities, said Hoskins’ office has not opened the statewide voter registration system, leaving clerks like Boone County Clerk Brianna Lennon without guidance. Lennon, a Democrat, stated in a letter to Hoskins that a Missouri Supreme Court ruling—allowing retroactive suspension of the map if a referendum passes—makes it impossible to determine which districts should be used. The court ruled that enforcement of the new map is suspended only after Hoskins verifies the petition signatures, which could happen as late as August 4, the day of the primary. The new map, passed in September 2025, aims to create a Republican-leaning 5th District to challenge incumbent Democrat Emanuel Cleaver. The changes include adding parts of Boone County and 13 rural counties to Cleaver’s district while removing portions of Jackson and Clay counties. Lennon said she must alter assignments for 45% of Boone County’s 130,000 registered voters. Hoskins, backed by Attorney General Catherine Hanaway, declared the new map in effect for the primary in a letter to local election authorities. He urged clerks to proceed with voter reassignment, despite Lennon’s refusal and threats from Republican candidates to force compliance. The uncertainty stems from a petition drive by People Not Politicians, which collected over 300,000 signatures to challenge the map. Hoskins has until August 4 to decide whether the petition qualifies, leaving officials in limbo about whether to enforce the new districts during the primary.