A federal appeals court panel heard arguments on Thursday.

The topic was Missouri's new congressional districts.

Republicans drew these districts.

President Donald Trump supports them.

Three judges from the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals are deciding the case.

The U.S. Supreme Court already blocked these districts for the November election.

Missouri will use the same districts as 2024 and 2022 for the November election.

The Missouri Supreme Court and the U.S. Supreme Court decided this earlier.

Local election officials said in a court paper that they are already printing ballots.

They must mail absentee ballots by Friday.

The law says they must send them to overseas citizens and military voters.

The Missouri Association of County Clerks and Election Authorities said changing districts now is "practically impossible."

They said it would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.

An attorney for Republican U.S. Rep. Bob Onder and state Sen. Rick Brattin said there is still time to use the Trump-backed map.

Missouri Solicitor General Lou Capozzi asked the judges to rule.

He said the U.S. Constitution does not let a referendum petition stop a map passed by lawmakers.

Missouri's top court ruled that state law requires the opposite.

The judges said they would rule quickly.

They also said any decision will probably go to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Judge James Loken was appointed by former President George H. W. Bush.

He said election officials would have to deal with the result.

The other two judges are David Stras and Justin Smith.

Both were appointed by Trump.

About a dozen states tried to change their U.S. House districts in the past year.

Missouri's fight has been the longest and most complex.