Will Missouri's secretary of state certify the congressional map referendum petition by the August 4 deadline?
63% of users predicted YES — the community missed this one. 35 predictions cast.
Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins declined to certify the referendum petition seeking to put the state's new Republican-drawn congressional map before voters, missing the Aug. 4, 2026 certification deadline. Hoskins announced the decision at a Jefferson City news conference roughly an hour before the deadline, ruling the referendum "insufficient" on the grounds that congressional redistricting plans cannot legally be subject to a voter referendum under his reading of the state constitution.
The petition targeted Missouri House Bill 1, which lawmakers passed during a special legislative session to redraw congressional districts in the GOP's favor. Organizers had gathered signatures aiming to force a statewide vote and block the map from taking effect for the 2026 midterms, but Hoskins said no number of valid signatures would have been sufficient given his legal objection. Opponents have signaled they will challenge the decision in court, setting up a likely legal battle over which map Missouri uses in November.
The non-certification confirms the market resolved "no." The community leaned "yes" (63% on 35 votes) expecting certification, missing the actual outcome.