An all-day hearing on Thursday (5 September) in a Missouri federal court did not yield a decision about whether or not a sports betting ballot initiative could move forward. But it was good theatre.
Cole County Circuit Judge Daniel R Green did not rule Thursday in Jacqueline Wood et al vs John Ashcroft, but did say to expect a quick decision.
In the lawsuit, Wood and fellow political consultant Blake Lawrence claim the voting districts used by the secretary of state to certify the Missouri wagering initiative are incorrect. In Missouri, a proposal needs verified signatures from 8% of voters in six of the state’s eight voting districts. Lawmakers redrew the congressional districts in 2020.
According to the lawsuit, the secretary of state’s office used old districts to determine if enough verified signatures were collected. It then used the new districts to determine where voters live.
Essentially that means that even if a signature came from a person who remains at the same address..