Missouri's top election official blocks referendum on gerrymandered map - Kansas City Star
kansascity.com
Missouri's top election official blocked a gerrymandering referendum after tossing 90,000 signatures — raising the question of who really controls the rules of democratic competition.
Public Choice TheoryInstitutional DesignPrincipal-Agent ProblemVeto Player Theory
Theory Briefing
- Missouri's secretary of state discarded nearly 90,000 petition signatures, gutting the campaign's ability to put the map to a public vote.
- The block targets a referendum that could reshape districts ahead of the 2026 midterms, a cycle with high stakes for congressional control.
- The official waited until the deadline day to act, leaving organizers little time to mount a legal or logistical response.
- Gerrymandering referendums have historically passed when voters get a direct say, making ballot access itself the decisive battleground.