Disputa por la validez de una petición de redistribución electoral en Misuri

2025-10-19

El conflicto entre el secretario de Estado de Misuri y el grupo People Not Politicians Missouri, después de que más de 100,000 firmas fueran declaradas inválidas en su intento por revertir el mapa congresional “Missouri First.”

<h1 dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.7999999999999998;text-align: center;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt;"><span style="font-size: 20pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; font-style: italic; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Dispute Over Validity of Missouri Redistricting Petition</h1><span style="font-size: 13pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">En Misuri, el grupo ciudadano <span style="font-size: 13pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-style: italic; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">People Not Politicians Missouri<span style="font-size: 13pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> afirmó haber reunido más de 100,000 firmas para impulsar un referéndum que anule el actual mapa congresional conocido como “Missouri First.” Sin embargo, el secretario de Estado, Denny Hoskins, declaró que dichas firmas no tienen validez legal.<span style="font-size: 13pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; font-style: italic; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">In Missouri, the citizen group People Not Politicians Missouri claimed to have collected more than 100,000 signatures to launch a referendum aimed at repealing the current congressional map known as “Missouri First.” However, Secretary of State Denny Hoskins declared that those signatures are not legally valid.<span style="font-size: 13pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Según Hoskins, la razón principal es que las firmas fueron recolectadas antes de que el proceso recibiera su aprobación oficial. En su comunicado, detalló que, de acuerdo con la ley estatal, ninguna firma obtenida antes de la fecha de autorización es válida y que hacerlo constituye una ofensa electoral menor.<span style="font-size: 13pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; font-style: italic; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">According to Hoskins, the main reason is that the signatures were collected before the process received his official approval. In his statement, he explained that under state law, no signatures gathered before the approval date are valid and that doing so constitutes a misdemeanor election offense.<span style="font-size: 13pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Esta decisión provocó críticas por parte de los representantes legales del grupo, quienes consideran que la interpretación del secretario de Estado restringe de manera inconstitucional el derecho de los ciudadanos a presentar peticiones públicas. Argumentan que la medida busca reducir el tiempo disponible para reunir apoyos y así obstaculizar el proceso democrático.<span style="font-size: 13pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; font-style: italic; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">This decision drew criticism from the group’s legal representatives, who argue that the Secretary of State’s interpretation unconstitutionally restricts citizens’ right to petition the government. They claim that the measure aims to shorten the time available to gather support and thereby obstruct the democratic process.

<span style="font-size: 13pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Mientras tanto, la fiscal general de Misuri, Catherine Hanaway, criticó duramente la iniciativa, calificándola como un intento financiado por intereses externos al estado. Aseguró que revertir el mapa “Missouri First” pondría en riesgo la confianza pública en el sistema electoral y abriría la puerta a la influencia de grupos ajenos al orden constitucional.<span style="font-size: 13pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; font-style: italic; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Meanwhile, Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway harshly criticized the initiative, calling it an effort funded by out-of-state interests. She argued that overturning the “Missouri First” map would endanger public trust in the electoral system and open the door to outside influence over the constitutional process.<span style="font-size: 13pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">El líder de <span style="font-size: 13pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-style: italic; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">People Not Politicians<span style="font-size: 13pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">, Richard von Glahn, respondió a las acusaciones afirmando que la mayoría de los donantes y voluntarios pertenecen al propio estado de Misuri. Sostuvo que la campaña está impulsada por ciudadanos locales que trabajan diariamente para conseguir las firmas necesarias y que el objetivo final es permitir que los votantes de Misuri decidan sobre el tema.<span style="font-size: 13pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; font-style: italic; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The leader of People Not Politicians, Richard von Glahn, responded to the accusations by stating that most donors and volunteers are Missouri residents. He maintained that the campaign is driven by local citizens working daily to gather the necessary signatures, with the ultimate goal of allowing Missouri voters to decide on the matter.<span style="font-size: 13pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Von Glahn también explicó que existen antecedentes legales que respaldan la validez de su petición. Recordó que en 1922, los votantes de Misuri lograron revocar un mapa electoral que pretendía dividir el estado en 16 distritos, utilizando un proceso similar al actual.<span style="font-size: 13pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; font-style: italic; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Von Glahn also explained that there are legal precedents supporting the validity of their petition. He pointed out that in 1922, Missouri voters successfully repealed an electoral map that would have divided the state into 16 districts, using a process similar to the one being pursued today.

<span style="font-size: 13pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">El líder sostuvo que este precedente demuestra que los ciudadanos de Misuri tienen el derecho histórico de intervenir directamente en la redistribución de distritos y que su movimiento se basa precisamente en ese principio democrático.<span style="font-size: 13pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; font-style: italic; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The leader maintained that this precedent proves that Missouri citizens have a historical right to directly participate in redistricting decisions and that their movement is founded on that very democratic principle.<span style="font-size: 13pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">El conflicto ahora se centra en si las cortes reconocerán o no la validez de las firmas recolectadas antes de la aprobación formal del secretario de Estado. De ser rechazadas, el referéndum podría quedar invalidado, afectando el esfuerzo de miles de voluntarios que buscan reformar la estructura política del estado.<span style="font-size: 13pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; font-style: italic; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The conflict now centers on whether the courts will recognize the validity of the signatures gathered before the Secretary of State’s formal approval. If rejected, the referendum could be invalidated, undermining the efforts of thousands of volunteers seeking to reform the state’s political structure.<span style="font-size: 13pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">El caso promete convertirse en una disputa legal significativa que podría influir en futuros movimientos de participación ciudadana en Misuri y en cómo se interpretan los límites del poder administrativo frente al derecho al voto popular.<span style="font-size: 13pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; font-style: italic; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The case is poised to become a major legal dispute that could influence future citizen participation movements in Missouri and shape how the balance between administrative authority and the people’s right to vote is interpreted.<div><span style="font-size: 13pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; font-style: italic; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </div>

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Disputa por la validez de una petición de redistribución electoral en Misuri

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