Missouri senator wants to push back election filing date

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - A Missouri senator has introduced legislation that would push back the state's time period for candidates to file for public office.

The legislation introduced Wednesday would push the filing period back to begin on March 27. The filing period was originally scheduled to begin Feb. 28. The change will affect races for seats in the state legislature and the U.S. House.

Sen. Mike Parson, a Republican from Bolivar, said the change was necessary because state lawmakers might not have enough time to file for their candidacies.

A state redistricting commission is set to meet on Feb. 18 to decide the boundaries of legislative districts, meaning it would not have enough time to finalize a district map by the end of the month.

In Southeast Missouri, the process has thrown some local politicians into limbo. Rep. Wayne Wallingford announced he'd seek a seat in the redrawn 3rd Senate District just a day before the map was thrown out. He now says he'll seek whatever Senate district Cape Girardeau is in.

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Candidate filing periods bill is SB773

Online:

Legislature: http://moga.mo.gov