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Note: This article is not intended to serve as a guide to running for public office. Individuals should contact theirstate election agencies for further information.

In order to get on the ballot in Missouri, a candidate for state or federal office must meet a variety of state-specific filing requirements and deadlines.These regulations, known as ballot access laws, determine whether a candidate or party will appear on an election ballot. These laws are set at the state level. A candidate must prepare to meet ballot access requirements well in advance of primaries, caucuses, and the general election.

There are three basic methods by which an individual may become a candidate for office in a state.

1. An individual can seek the nomination of a state-recognized political party.
2. An individual can run as an independent. Independent candidates often must petition in order to have their names printed on the general election ballot.
3. An individual can run as a write-in candidate.

This article outlines the steps that prospective candidates for state-level and congressional office must take in order to run for office in Missouri. For information about filing requirements for presidential candidates,click here. Information about filing requirements for local-level offices is not available in this article (contactstate election agencies for information about local candidate filing processes).

Seestate election laws

Year-specific filing information

2026

See also: Signature requirements and deadlines for 2026 U.S. Congress elections andMissouri elections, 2026

U.S. House

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. House candidates in Missouri in the 2026 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Missouri, clickhere.

State House

The table below details filing requirements for Missouri House of Representatives candidates in the 2026 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Missouri, clickhere.

State Senate

The table below details filing requirements for Missouri State Senate candidates in the 2026 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Missouri, clickhere.

For filing information from previous years, click "[Show more]" below.

Process to become a candidate

See statutes:Missouri Revised Statutes, Section 115.307

For state-recognized political party candidates

A political party candidate seeking placement on the primary ballot must file a declaration of candidacy with the appropriate election official by 5:00 p.m. on the last Tuesday in March immediately preceding the primary. The declaration of candidacy cannot be submitted prior to 8:00 a.m. on the last Tuesday in February immediately preceding the primary. The declaration must state the candidate's name, residential address, office being sought, and political party.^[3][4]

Before filing a declaration of candidacy, a candidate must pay a filing fee to the treasurer of the state or county committee of the political party whose nomination he or she is seeking in the primary. Filing fees vary according to the office being sought and are as follows:^[3][5]

A candidate must also file an affidavit with the Missouri Department of Revenue affirming that, to the best of his or her knowledge, the candidate is not delinquent in the payment of any state-owed taxes (e.g., income tax, property tax, etc.).^[3][6]

A candidate is required to file for office in-person. In addition to completing the declaration of candidacy, a candidate must present proof of identity, a receipt for the payment of any filing fees, and a copy of the affidavit filed with the Missouri Department of Revenue. A candidate may file for office by certified mail if he or she is unable to appear in person due to a physical disability or is a member of the armed forces on active duty. Filing paperwork submitted via mail must be certified by a notary public.^[3][7]

If a candidate is unable to pay the required filing fees, he or she may have the fee waived by filing a "Declaration of Inability to Pay" and a petition with his or her declaration of candidacy. If the candidate is filing for statewide office, the petition must be signed by a number of registered voters in the state equal to at least one-half of 1 percent of the total number of votes cast in the state for the office being sought at the last election in which a candidate ran for the office. If the candidate is filing for any other office, the petition must be signed by a number of registered voters in the district or political subdivision equal to at least 1 percent of the total number of votes cast for the office being sought at the last election in which a candidate ran for the office.^[3][7]

Candidates for federal, statewide, and state legislative offices must file with the Missouri Secretary of State.^[8]

For independent candidates

Like political party candidates, an independent candidate seeking placement on the general election ballot must file a declaration of candidacy and an affidavit affirming that he or she is not delinquent in the payment of any state-owed taxes. The candidate is required to file in person (with the same aforementioned exceptions). Independent candidates, however, are not liable for the payment of any filing fees.^[9][10]

Independents must submit nominating petitions with their filing paperwork. Signature requirements vary according to the office being sought. For any statewide office, a nominating petition must be signed by at least 10,000 registered voters of the state. If the candidate seeks a district-level office, the petition must be signed by a number of registered voters in the district equal to at least 2 percent of the total number of votes cast at the last election for the office being sought, or 10,000 signatures, whichever is less.^[9][10]

The candidate must file all required paperwork (including petitions) by 5:00 p.m. on the 15th Monday immediately preceding the general election for which the petition is submitted. Paperwork cannot be submitted prior to 8:00 a.m. on the day immediately following the general election next preceding the general election for which the petition is submitted.^[9][11]

Candidates for federal, statewide, and state legislative offices must file with the Missouri Secretary of State.^[8][9]

For write-in candidates

In order to have his or her votes tallied, a write-in candidate must file a declaration of intent with the proper election official by 5:00 p.m. on the second Friday immediately preceding the election. Write-in candidates are not permitted on the primary ballot.^[12][13]

Write-in candidates for federal, statewide, and state legislative office must file with the Missouri Secretary of State.^[8]

Petition requirements

See also:Methods for signing candidate nominating petitions

See statutes:Missouri Revised Statutes, Section 115.325

In some cases, candidates may need to obtain signatures via the petition process to gain access to the ballot. This section outlines the laws and regulations pertaining topetitions andcirculators inMissouri.

Format requirements

Nominating petitions and petitions submitted in lieu of filing fees are subject to the following requirements:^[14][15]

• Each page or sheet attached to a page of each petition must declare concisely the intention to nominate either an independent candidate or a party candidate who is unable to pay the filing fee, as the case may be.
• Each page or sheet attached to a page of each petition must include the name and address of the candidate.
• Each page or sheet attached to a page of each petition must indicate the office being sought.

Pages must be of uniform size, and the space for signatures on either side of a petition page must be no larger than 8.5 by 14 inches. Each page can contain signatures of registered voters from only one county. When submitted for filing, the pages of each petition must be numbered sequentially.^[16]

Petitions for independent candidates must be in substantially the following form:^[16]

Circulation requirements

Each petition must include a circulator's affidavit on which the circulator attests before a notary public that he or she is a resident of the state ofMissouri. The relevant statutes stipulate no further requirements for circulators.^[16]

Contact information

Election agencies

Seal of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission

See also:State election agencies

Individuals seeking additional information about election administration in Missouri can contact the following local, state, and federal agencies.

Missouri Election Authority

Click here for a list

Secretary of State, Elections Division

Physical Address: 600 West Main Street

Jefferson City, Missouri 65101

Mailing Address: James C. Kirkpatrick State Information Center

PO Box 1767

Jefferson City, MO 65102-1767

Phone: 573-751-2301

Toll free: 800-669-8683

Fax: 573-526-3242

Email:elections@sos.mo.gov

Website:https://www.sos.mo.gov

Missouri Ethics Commission

Physical Address: 3411A Knipp Drive, Suite A

Jefferson City, Missouri 65109

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 1370

Jefferson City, Missouri 65102

Phone: 573-751-2020

Toll free: 800-392-8660

Fax: 573-526-4506

Email:helpdesk@mec.mo.gov

Website:http://www.mec.mo.gov/

U.S. Election Assistance Commission

633 3rd Street NW, Suite 200

Washington, DC 20001

Phone: 301-563-3919

Toll free: 1-866-747-1471

Email:clearinghouse@eac.gov

Website:https://www.eac.gov

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Do you need information about elections inyour area? Are you looking foryour local election official?Click here to visit theU.S. Vote Foundation and use their election official lookup tool.

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Term limits

State executives

See also:State executives with term limits andStates with gubernatorial term limits

The state executive term limits inMissouri are described inArticle IV, Section 17 of the Missouri Constitution:

• Thegovernor may serve a total of two terms.
• Thetreasurer may serve a total of two terms.

State legislators

See also:State legislatures with term limits

Members of theMissouri General Assembly may serveno more than eight years total in any one house and no more than 16 years total in both houses.

Term limits were imposed on state legislators by aconstitutional amendment approved by voters in 1992. This was furtheramended in 2002.

Congressional partisanship

See also:List of United States Representatives from Missouri andList of United States Senators from Missouri

Below is the current partisan breakdown of the congressional delegation fromMissouri.

State legislative partisanship

Below is the current partisan breakdown of the state legislature ofMissouri.

Missouri State Senate

Missouri House of Representatives

Related legislation

The table below lists bills related to ballot access requirements for candidates that have been introduced during (or carried over to) the current legislative session in Missouri. The following information is included for each bill:

• State
• Bill number
• Official bill name or caption
• Most recent action date
• Legislative status
• Sponsor party
• Topics dealt with by the bill

Bills are organized by most recent action. The table displays up to 100 results. To view more bills, use the arrows in the upper-right corner. Clicking on a bill will open its page onBallotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker, which includes bill details and a summary.

The Ballot Bulletin

TheBallot Bulletin is a weekly email that delivers the latest updates on election policy. The Ballot Bulletin tracks developments in election policy around the country, including legislative activity, big-picture trends, and recent news. Each email contains in-depth data from ourElection Administration Legislation Tracker. You'll also be able to track relevant legislation, with links to and summaries of the bills themselves.

Recent issues

Click below to view recent issues of The Ballot Bulletin.

• The Ballot Bulletin: November 21, 2025
• The Ballot Bulletin: November 14, 2025
• The Ballot Bulletin: November 7, 2025
• The Ballot Bulletin: October 31, 2025
• The Ballot Bulletin: October 24, 2025

Subscribe

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See also

• Ballot access requirements for presidential candidates in Missouri
• Ballot access requirements for political parties in Missouri
• Missouri elections, 2024
• Campaign finance requirements in Missouri
• Counties in Missouri
• List of United States Representatives from Missouri
• List of United States Senators from Missouri
• Methods for signing candidate nominating petitions
• State executives with term limits
• States with gubernatorial term limits
• State legislatures with term limits

External links

Official state and federal links

• Missouri Secretary of State
• Official Website of the Federal Election Commission
• Missouri Secretary of State, "For Candidates"
• Missouri Secretary of State, "2024 Missouri Election Calendar"

Other information

• Ballot Access News – News updates and analysis of ballot access issues
• ThirdPartyPolitics.us – Blog about American third party and independent politics
• National Voter Outreach – Political consulting firm that specializes in organizing petition signature drives

Footnotes

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policy Alabama •Alaska •Arizona •Arkansas •California •Colorado •Connecticut •Delaware •Florida •Georgia •Hawaii •Idaho •Illinois •Indiana •Iowa •Kansas •Kentucky •Louisiana •Maine •Maryland •Massachusetts •Michigan •Minnesota •Mississippi •Missouri •Montana •Nebraska •Nevada •New Hampshire •New Jersey •New Mexico •New York •North Carolina •North Dakota •Ohio •Oklahoma •Oregon •Pennsylvania •Rhode Island •South Carolina •South Dakota •Tennessee •Texas •Utah •Vermont •Virginia •Washington •West Virginia •Wisconsin •Wyoming Redistricting policy Alabama •Alaska •Arizona •Arkansas •California •Colorado •Connecticut •Delaware •Florida •Georgia •Hawaii •Idaho •Illinois •Indiana •Iowa •Kansas •Kentucky •Louisiana •Maine •Maryland •Massachusetts •Michigan •Minnesota •Mississippi •Missouri •Montana •Nebraska •Nevada •New Hampshire •New Jersey •New Mexico •New York •North Carolina •North Dakota •Ohio •Oklahoma •Oregon •Pennsylvania •Rhode Island •South Carolina •South Dakota •Tennessee •Texas •Utah •Vermont •Virginia •Washington •West Virginia •Wisconsin •Wyoming Recount laws Alabama •Alaska •Arizona •Arkansas •California •Colorado •Connecticut •Delaware •Florida •Georgia •Hawaii •Idaho •Illinois •Indiana •Iowa •Kansas •Kentucky •Louisiana •Maine •Maryland •Massachusetts •Michigan •Minnesota •Mississippi •Missouri •Montana •Nebraska •Nevada •New Hampshire •New Jersey •New Mexico •New York •North Carolina •North Dakota •Ohio •Oklahoma •Oregon •Pennsylvania •Rhode Island •South Carolina •South Dakota •Tennessee •Texas •Utah •Vermont •Virginia •Washington •West Virginia •Wisconsin •Wyoming Ballot access for political candidates Alabama •Alaska •Arizona •Arkansas •California •Colorado •Connecticut •Delaware •Florida •Georgia •Hawaii •Idaho •Illinois •Indiana •Iowa •Kansas •Kentucky •Louisiana •Maine •Maryland •Massachusetts •Michigan •Minnesota •Mississippi •Missouri •Montana •Nebraska •Nevada •New Hampshire •New Jersey •New Mexico •New York •North Carolina •North Dakota •Ohio •Oklahoma •Oregon •Pennsylvania •Rhode Island •South Carolina •South Dakota •Tennessee •Texas •Utah •Vermont •Virginia •Washington •West Virginia •Wisconsin •Wyoming Ballot access for presidential candidates Alabama •Alaska •Arizona •Arkansas •California •Colorado •Connecticut •Delaware •Florida •Georgia •Hawaii •Idaho •Illinois •Indiana •Iowa •Kansas •Kentucky •Louisiana •Maine •Maryland •Massachusetts •Michigan •Minnesota •Mississippi •Missouri •Montana •Nebraska •Nevada •New Hampshire •New Jersey •New Mexico •New York •North Carolina •North Dakota •Ohio •Oklahoma •Oregon •Pennsylvania •Rhode Island •South Carolina •South Dakota •Tennessee •Texas •Utah •Vermont •Virginia •Washington •West Virginia •Wisconsin •Wyoming Ballot access for political parties Alabama •Alaska •Arizona •Arkansas •California •Colorado •Connecticut •Delaware •Florida •Georgia •Hawaii •Idaho •Illinois •Indiana •Iowa •Kansas •Kentucky •Louisiana •Maine •Maryland •Massachusetts •Michigan •Minnesota •Mississippi •Missouri •Montana •Nebraska •Nevada •New Hampshire •New Jersey •New Mexico •New York •North Carolina •North Dakota •Ohio •Oklahoma •Oregon •Pennsylvania •Rhode Island •South Carolina •South Dakota •Tennessee •Texas •Utah •Vermont •Virginia •Washington •West Virginia •Wisconsin •Wyoming Electoral systems Single-winner system •Multi-winner system •Block voting system •Plurality voting system •Majority voting system •Top-two primary •Blanket primary •Open primary •Closed primary •Semi-closed primary •Top-four primary •Ranked-choice voting (RCV) •STAR voting •Approval voting •Fusion voting