Becoming a Candidate

Election Year 2026

August 4, 2026 Primary Election

Candidate Filing:

The August Primary Election Candidate filing deadline is 5pm on March 31, 2026 at the County Clerk’s Office in the Jefferson County Administration Building. Candidates must use the front door to enter the building.

Filings will be accepted at the County Clerk's Office for:

  • Associate Circuit Judges Divisions 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15
  • County Council Member Districts 1, 3, 5, 7
  • County Executive
  • Circuit Clerk
  • County Clerk
  • Recorder of Deeds 
  • Collector
  • Auditor
  • Prosecuting Attorney
  • Township Committeemen and Committeewoman

Qualifications

Each candidate will sign a Declaration of Candidacy (provided by the County Clerk's Office) that if elected the candidate will qualify. Qualifications can be found in the Missouri Revisor of Statutes, the Constitution of Missouri, County Code & Charter.

Ballot Placement:

First day candidate filers will select a number by random drawing to determine ballot placement on the primary ballot. After the first day to file, candidates will be placed on the ballot in the order of their filing. (RSMo 115.395.2)

Documents Required for Filing

  1. Proof of Identity: Missouri Driver's License, Voter ID Card, Birth Certificate or other form of identification. RSMo 115.355.4
  2. Candidate's Affidavit of Tax Payments Form 5120: A copy of an affidavit filed with the Department of Revenue affirming that the candidate is not currently aware of any delinquency in the filing or payment of any state income taxes, personal property taxes, real property taxes on the place of residence, as stated on the declaration of candidacy, or is not a past or present corporate officer of any fee office that owes any taxes to the state, other that those taxes which my be in dispute. 
  3. You can File online  or you may obtain a copy of this form in the County Clerk's Office or at: http://dor.mo.gov/tax/candidates    115.306, RSMo

Filing Fees - RSMo 115.357:

  • $100 – County Office RSMo 115.357.1 (2)
  • $0 – Township Committeepersons RSMo 115.611.2 (3)

Pay To the treasurer of the county central committee of the political party of whose ticket he or she seeks nomination, one hundred dollars if he or she is a candidate for county office.

Candidate Withdrawal: RSMo 115.359

  • 11th Tuesday prior to the election without a court order –May 19, 2026
  • 8th Tuesday prior to the election with a court order – June 9, 2026
  • The candidate must withdraw with the official who accepted such candidate’s declaration of candidacy RSMo 115.359

April 7, 2026 General Municipal Election

Candidate Filing:

The April General Municipal Election Candidate filing deadline is 5pm on December 30, 2025 at the County Clerk’s Office in the Jefferson County Administration Building. Candidates must use the front door to enter the building.

For April Election - Filings will be accepted at the County Clerk's Office for Jefferson College Board of Trustees, Big River Ambulance, Joachim Plattin Ambulance, North Jefferson County Ambulance, Rock Township Ambulance, Valle Ambulance, Festus Special Road District and Hillsboro Special Road District. 

All other filings will be accepted at their respective districts.

Qualifications

Each candidate will sign a Declaration of Candidacy (provided by the County Clerk's Office) that if elected the candidate will qualify. Qualifications can be found in the Missouri Revisor of Statutes, the Constitution of Missouri.

Ballot Placement:

First day candidate filers will select a number by random drawing to determine ballot placement on the primary ballot. After the first day to file, candidates will be placed on the ballot in the order of their filing. (RSMo 115.395.2)

Documents Required for Filing

  1. Proof of Identity: Missouri Driver's License, Voter ID Card, Birth Certificate or other form of identification. RSMo 115.355.4
  2. Candidate's Affidavit of Tax Payments Form 5120: A copy of an affidavit filed with the Department of Revenue affirming that the candidate is not currently aware of any delinquency in the filing or payment of any state income taxes, personal property taxes, real property taxes on the place of residence, as stated on the declaration of candidacy, or is not a past or present corporate officer of any fee office that owes any taxes to the state, other that those taxes which my be in dispute. 
  3. You can File online  or you may obtain a copy of this form in the County Clerk's Office or at: http://dor.mo.gov/tax/candidates    115.306, RSMo

Filing Fees

  1. There are no filing fees.

Candidate Withdrawal 

  • The last date to withdraw is the 1oth Tuesday prior to the election without a court order is January 27, 2026.
  • The last date to withdraw is the 8th Tuesday prior to the election with a court order is February 10, 2026.  (RSMo 115.127.6)
  • The candidate must withdraw with the official who accepted such candidate's declaration of candidacy, unless the official has already certified to the County Clerk's Office. The candidate would then need to appear at the County Clerk's Office to withdraw.