Mo. independent candidates could face same filing deadlines

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Independent candidates would need to file for office at the same time as those running in political party primaries, under legislation given initial House approval.

Current law requires independents to file for office by the 15th Monday before the general election, which puts the deadline shortly before Missouri's August party primary election.

Legislation given initial approval Tuesday by the House, with little debate, would subject independent candidates to the same filing deadline as party candidates -- the last Tuesday in March.

In some parts of Missouri, it's common for all the candidates to be of the same political party -- all Democrats in St. Louis, for example, or all Republicans in southwest Missouri.

Sponsoring Rep. Ted Hoskins, D-Berkeley, said the legislation would give party candidates in such instances greater warning that the primary winner still would face a general election challenge from an independent candidate.

The Missouri legislation requires another House vote before moving to the Senate.

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Primary filing is HB894.

On the Net:

Legislature: http://www.moga.mo.gov