2016 PRESIDENTIAL PREFERENCE PRIMARY IN MISSOURI MISSOURI STATUTES FROM CHAPTER 115 RELATED TO THE PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY

 

Note: These are the key provisions in Missouri law related to the presidential primary. There may be other general provisions in Chapter 115 and other chapters in Missouri law.

115.351. Candidate may not file for more than one office, exception, presidential primary, also prohibited from filing for the same office on more than one ticket at the same election---No person who files as a party candidate for nomination or election to an office shall, without withdrawing, file as another party's candidate or an independent candidate for nomination or election to the office for the same term. No person who files as an independent candidate for election to an office shall, without withdrawing, file as a party candidate for nomination or election to the office for the same term. No person shall file for one office and, without withdrawing, file for another office to be filled at the same election. A person who files a request to be included on the presidential primary ballot is not prohibited by this section from filing or appearing on any ballot as a party candidate for nomination to another office. Receipt by the secretary of state of proper certification of nomination pursuant to subsection 1 of section 115.399 constitutes withdrawal by operation of law pursuant to subsection 1 of section 115.359 of any presidential or vice presidential nominee from any other office for which such nominee is a candidate at the same election. Any person violating any provision of this section shall be disqualified from running for nomination or election to any office at the primary and general election next succeeding the violation.

(L. 1977 H.B. 101 § 10.105, A.L. 1998 S.B. 709, A.L. 1999 H.B. 676)

115.755. Presidential primary, when held---A statewide presidential preference primary shall be held on the second Tuesday after the first Monday in March of each presidential election year.

(L. 1998 S.B. 709, A.L. 1999 H.B. 676, A.L. 2002 S.B. 675, A.L. 2014 S.B. 892)

115.758. Official list of candidates announced, when---On or before the tenth Tuesday prior to the date of the presidential preference primary, the secretary of state shall announce the official list of presidential candidates for each established political party as provided in section 115.761.

 (L. 1998 S.B. 709)

115.761. Official list of candidates, how included, filing fee--name removed, how--ballot form, content---1. The official list of presidential candidates for each established political party shall include the names of all constitutionally qualified candidates for whom, on or after 8:00 a.m. on the fifteenth Tuesday prior to the presidential primary, and on or before 5:00 p.m., on the eleventh Tuesday prior to the presidential primary, a written request to be included on the presidential primary ballot is filed with the secretary of state along with:

(1) Receipt of payment to the state committee of the established political party on whose ballot the candidate wishes to appear of a filing fee of one thousand dollars; or
(2) A written statement, sworn to before an officer authorized by law to administer oaths, that the candidate is unable to pay the filing fee and does not have funds in a campaign fund or committee to pay the filing fee and a petition signed by not less than five thousand registered Missouri voters, as determined by the secretary of state, that the candidate's name be placed on the ballot of the specified established political party for the presidential preference primary. The request to be included on the presidential primary ballot shall include each signer's printed name, registered address and signature and shall be in substantially the following form:
I (We) the undersigned, do hereby request that the name of ................................................ be placed upon the February .........., ......., presidential primary ballot as candidate for nomination as the nominee for President of the United States on the .................... party ticket.
2. The state or national party organization of an established political party that adopts rules imposing signature requirements to be met before a candidate can be listed as an official candidate shall notify the secretary of state by October first of the year preceding the presidential primary.
3. Any candidate or such candidate's authorized representative may have such candidate's name stricken from the presidential primary ballot by filing with the secretary of state on or before 5:00 p.m. on the eleventh Tuesday prior to the presidential primary election a written statement, sworn to before an officer authorized by law to administer oaths, requesting that such candidate's name not be printed on the official primary ballot. Thereafter, the secretary of state shall not include the name of that candidate in the official list announced pursuant to section 115.758 or in the certified list of candidates transmitted pursuant to section 115.765.
4. The filing times set out in this section shall only apply to presidential preference primaries, and are in lieu of those established in section 115.349.

(L. 1998 S.B. 709, A.L. 1999 H.B. 676, A.L. 2003 H.B. 511)

115.765. Certified list of candidates, order of appearance on ballot, procedure---On or before the tenth Tuesday prior to a presidential preference primary, the secretary of state shall transmit to each election authority a certified list containing the names of all candidates whose names shall appear on the presidential preference primary ballot of each party.  The names of the candidates shall appear in the order in which their request to be included on the presidential primary ballot was received in the office of the secretary of state, except that, in the case of candidates who file a request to be included on the presidential primary ballot with the secretary of state prior to 5:00 p.m. on the first day for filing, the secretary of state shall determine by random drawing the order in which such candidates’ names shall appear on the ballot.  The drawing shall be conducted so that each candidate, or candidate’s representative, may draw a number at random at the time of filing.  The secretary of state shall record the number drawn with the candidate’s request to be included on the presidential primary ballot.  The names of candidates filing on the first day for filing on each party ballot shall be listed in ascending order of the numbers so drawn.

(L. 1998 S.B. 709)

115.767. Names to appear on ballot---Each election authority shall cause the name of candidates certified by the secretary of state to appear on the presidential preference primary ballot of each party, followed by a listing for an uncommitted vote.

(L. 1998 S.B. 709)

115.770. Conduct of primary---The conduct of the presidential preference primary election and the count and canvass of the votes cast therein shall conform as nearly as is practicable to that prescribed for the conduct of the primary election for state officers.  All primary election laws not inconsistent with the provisions of sections 115.750 to 115.785 shall be applicable to the conduct of this election, and the form of the ballot insofar as is practicable shall be substantially as that prescribed by section 115.395.  In a presidential preference primary, each voter shall be entitled to receive the ballot of one and only one established political party, designated by the voter before receiving such voter's ballot.  Each voter who participates in a presidential preference primary shall be entitled to vote on all questions and for any candidates submitted by political subdivisions and special districts at the general municipal election.  Each voter who does not wish to participate in a presidential preference primary may vote on all questions and for any candidates submitted by a political subdivision or special district at the general municipal election.

(L. 1998 S.B. 709)

115.773. Duty to notify state chair of parties---After the count and canvass of the votes cast, the secretary of state shall notify the state chair of each of the established political parties for whom a candidate was listed, of the number of votes recorded in that established political party's primary that each candidate and uncommitted listing received.

(L. 1998 S.B. 709, A.L. 1999 H.B. 676)

115.776. Caucuses, delegates for national conventions---The state party organization which is the state organization recognized by the national organization of that established political party shall, after the primary and before the national convention, conduct a series of caucuses culminating in congressional and state conventions. Delegates to the national conventions shall be chosen at the congressional district and state conventions pursuant to rules established by the political parties.

(L. 1998 S.B. 709, A.L. 1999 H.B. 676)

115.785. Costs of primary to be paid by state, exceptions---All costs of a presidential preference primary shall be paid by the state, except that, pursuant to section 115.065, costs shall be shared proportionately by the state and any political subdivisions and special districts holding an election on the same day as any such primary. For any county with more than five hundred polling places, the state shall assist in assuring adequate poll workers and equipment.

(L. 1998 S.B. 709, A.L. 1999 H.B. 676)

115.801. Youth voting programs, grant, loan, or other aid program to be administered--grant program to improve federal election process --rulemaking authority---1. Subject to appropriation from federal funds, the secretary of state shall administer a grant, loan, or other aid program for the purpose of involving youth in youth voting programs. The secretary of state may promulgate rules to effectuate the provisions of this subsection.

2. The secretary of state shall administer a grant, loan, or other aid program for the purpose of allowing election authorities to receive grants from the federal government for the purpose of improving the election process in federal elections. The secretary of state may promulgate rules to effectuate the provisions of this subsection.

3. Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is defined in section 536.010, that is created under the authority delegated in this section shall become effective only if it complies with and is subject to all of the provisions of chapter 536 and, if applicable, section 536.028. This subsection and chapter 536, are nonseverable and if any of the powers vested with the general assembly pursuant to chapter 536, to review, to delay the effective date or to disapprove and annul a rule are subsequently held unconstitutional, then the grant of rulemaking authority and any rule proposed or adopted after August 28, 2002, shall be invalid and void.

(L. 2002 S.B. 675 §§ 115.801, 115.803, and 115.806, A.L. 2003 H.B. 511)