Missouri rejects citizens’ bid for vote on Trump-backed redistricting plan

Missouri's top election official has rejected a petition for a referendum on new congressional districts

Missouri's top election official has rejected a citizens' petition seeking a statewide referendum on the state's redistricting plan backed by Donald Trump.

Supporters of the referendum had submitted hundreds of thousands of petition signatures in an effort to force a November election on whether to use a new US House map approved by the Republican-led state legislature. But the Republican secretary of state, Denny Hoskins, asserted on Tuesday that the petition was void because congressional redistricting plans cannot be subject to voter referendums.