A federal appeals court panel heard arguments on Thursday.

The issue is whether Missouri should use new congressional districts.

These districts were drawn by Republicans and supported by President Donald Trump.

The three-judge panel is from the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

It is considering the dispute even though the U.S. Supreme Court blocked the districts.

They cannot be used in the November election.

Missouri is currently set to run its November election with the same districts as in 2024 and 2022.

This follows earlier decisions by the Missouri Supreme Court and the U.S. Supreme Court.

Local election officials said in a court filing that they are already printing ballots with those districts.

They face a Friday deadline under federal law.

They must mail absentee ballots to overseas citizens and military voters.

The Missouri Association of County Clerks and Election Authorities said changing districts this late would be "practically impossible."

It would also cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.

An attorney for Republican U.S. Rep. Bob Onder and state Sen. Rick Brattin suggested there is still time.

He said the state could go back to the Trump-backed map.

Missouri Solicitor General Lou Capozzi urged the panel to rule on the Constitution.

He said it forbids a referendum petition from suspending a congressional map passed by lawmakers.

Missouri's top court has ruled that state law requires exactly that.

The judges indicated they would rule quickly.

They noted any decision is likely to be appealed 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 outcome.

The other two panelists are judges David Stras and Justin Smith.

Both are Trump appointees.

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

About a dozen states sought to change their U.S. House districts over the past year.