JOHNSON COUNTY — Johnson County Clerk Diane Thompson is encouraging voters to hold off on absentee voting for the time being.
Absentee voting for the Nov. 3 election began Tuesday, Sept. 22, but the arguments of which version of the congressional maps is in effect continue to be debated in the court system. On Monday, Sept. 21, an 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling said the 2025 map - which would put Johnson County in Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District – should be used. The map is the same one used in the Aug. 4 primary.
The Missouri Supreme Court ruled Sept. 4 that the 2022 map, which places Johnson County in Missouri’s Fourth Congressional District, should be used in the Nov. 3 General Election. The decision would also place Proposition A, a measure where the voters would decide which map should be used, on the ballot.
The Missouri Supreme Court’s decision has since been brought to the U.S. Supreme Court twice through different cases and is pending a third following U.S. Chief District Judge Stephen Clark’s Sept. 21 ruling.
The latest appeal to the U.S. The Supreme Court case was filed Tuesday, Sept. 22, asking the court to prevent the 2025 map from going into effect Sept. 28.
After the U.S. Supreme Court’s second blocking of the 2025 map, and a Missouri Supreme Court finding that Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins was in contempt, Hoskins’ office instructed county clerks to use the 2022 map on their ballots.
Since Missouri ballots were supposed to be finalized on Sept. 8 under state law, sent to military personnel and other eligible Missourians living outside of the United States on Sept. 18 and available for absentee voting beginning Tuesday, current ballots include the 4th Congressional District.
“Pending an appeal to the US Supreme Court, Thompson recommends that voters hold off on absentee voting if possible,” the county wrote in a statement. “Under Missouri law, once a ballot has been cast, another one may not be issued. Absentee voting continues through Monday, November 2nd. The last day to request an absentee ballot by mail is Wednesday, October 21st.”
Joe Andrews can be reached at 660-747-8123.
