Tag: Write-In Candidate

10 Weeks Until Filing Day

Candidate filing begins February 27th in Missouri for the August 6th Primary Election for county offices, General Assembly, Statewide offices, U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, and political party committeepeople. Filing ends March 26th.
Candidate Filing Information
Candidate Qualifications

Candidates for county office in City of St. Louis file with St. Louis City Board of Election Commissioners in Downtown.

Candidates for Missouri legislative office file with the Missouri Secretary of State in Jefferson City

In the City of St. Louis, the following County and State Legislative offices will be elected in 2024. See Missouri & St. Louis City Age & Residency Requirements

Circuit Attorney (four year term, no Term Limit): Gabe Gore, appointed in May 2023 by Governor Mike Parson to fill vacancy of Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner who resigned
Sheriff (four year term, no Term Limit): Vernon Betts– elected 2016, 2020
Treasurer (four year term, no Term Limit): Adam Layne- appointed April 2021 by Mayor Tishaura Jones to fill out her term as Treasurer after her election as Mayor

Missouri Senate (Term Limit of two four-year terms)
5th District: accused rapist Steven Roberts Jr.- elected 2020
Missouri House of Representatives (Term Limit of four two-year terms)
66th District, mostly St. Louis County: Marlene Terry- elected 2020, 2022
76th District: Marlon Anderson- elected 2020, 2022
77th District: Kimberly-Ann Collins- elected 2020, 2022
78th District: Vacancy due to resignation of Rasheen Aldridge after his election as Alder
79th District: LaKeySha Bosley- elected 2018, 2020, 2022
80th District: Peter Meredith- elected 2016, 2018, 2020, 2022, Term Limited
81st District: Steve Butz- elected 2018, 2020, 2022, he is the only openly anti-abortion legislator from St. Louis City
82nd District: Donna Baringer- elected 2016, 2018, 2020, 2022, Term Limited
83rd District, mostly St. Louis County: Sarah Unsicker– elected 2016, 2018, 2020, 2022, Term Limited
84th District: Del Taylor- elected 2022

August 6th is also when political parties elect one Committeeman and one Committeewoman from each of the City’s fourteen wards to serve on party Central Committees. This will be the first such election since wards were reduced to 14 from 28.

Deadline for filing as an Independent Candidate for November 5th General Election is July 29th. An Independent Candidate’s name appears on the printed ballot.
Independent Candidate Declaration Form for Non-Federal Office

Deadline for filing a Write-In Candidate Declaration of Intent for November 5th General Election is October 25th. A Write-in Candidate’s name does not appear on the printed ballot nor is there is list of Write-In Candidates posted at polling places. An unsuccessful candidate in the 2024 Primary Election may not file as Write-In Candidate for the same office in 2024 General Election. Write-in votes are counted only for the candidates who have filed a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate.
Write-in Candidate Information
Write-In Candidate Declaration of Intent for Non-Federal Office

Official Write-In Candidate 101

Maybe you refuse to vote for a Republican and the Democratic Party’s nominee is pro-predator, or treats employees like indentured servants, or is pro-corporate welfare, or whatever reason.

Maybe you want another option besides voting for the only candidate on the ballot.

Maybe you’d like to make a protest vote other than being a drop vote in a race, leaving it blank.

The good news is that you have a Write-In Candidate option in Missouri during November and April General Elections.

Minnesota Lizard People ballot

Sure. You could write in your name, or Jorts the Cat, or Lizard People. But your vote would not count.

Becoming an Official Write-In Candidate in Missouri is, however, easy and cheap. You are nearly guaranteed defeat at the polls, but earn the privilege of adding “Former Official Write In Candidate for _____” to your social media accounts and email signature line. Win Win.*

Running as a Write-In Candidate is different from running as an Independent in that your name will not be on the ballot and you do not have to pay a fee, collect petition signatures, form a campaign committee, etc. If you want your name on a ballot you will need to do all the things necessary to run as a political party candidate, nonpartisan candidate, or independent candidate.

In Missouri, there is a simple process for declaring your Write-In candidacy so that any votes you get are actually counted. A reporter may even ask the Secretary of State or your local election authority for info on Official Write-In Candidates.

Step 1. Check to see if you meet the age and residency related qualifications for the office you want to be a Write-In Candidate.

Step 2. File a Write-In Candidate Declaration of Intent in person by 5 pm October 28th. For other elections, the deadline is second Friday before the election. Sample Declaration for Local and State Write-In Candidates. Sample Declaration for Federal Write-In Candidates.

For municipal and county offices, you will file the Declaration of Intent in person with your county election authority. In St. Louis City that is the Board of Election Commissioners at 300 N Tucker. For State and Federal offices, you will file with the Secretary of State at Kirkpatrick Building, Elections Division, 600 West Main, Jefferson City.

Bring with you

Step 3. Tell your family, friends, neighbors, social media followers that you are an Official Write-In Candidate. Let Media know about your campaign. Or do nothing.

Step 4. Remember to Vote for yourself on Election Day.

* Sorry, St. Louis City Civil Service employees, City Charter makes you second class citizens with few political rights, so you don’t have the option of running as a Write-In Candidate (or any other kind of candidate). Most State employees in Missouri are now At Will employees who would probably get fired for running for public office even as a Write-In Candidate.