Senate advances bill to let proxy file for some candidates

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The Missouri Senate has advanced legislation allowing stand-ins for certain political candidates when they file for office.

The bill, introduced by Sen. Wayne Wallingford of Cape Girardeau, would let people who are on active military duty or have disabilities appoint others to take their places in line at a filing venue.

Thursday's 32-0 Senate vote sent the measure to the House, which passed a similar bill earlier this year.

Candidates on active duty in the military or with a physical disability would have to file for an election by mail. The legislation would then let a candidate's representative show up in-person to pick a number, which is used to establish the ballot order.

Filing for Missouri's August party primaries runs this year from Feb. 25 through March 25.

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Candidate filing is SB 630

Online:

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