MO SB525

Beginning January 1, 2013, circuit and associate circuit judges shall be elected in nonpartisan elections held on the primary election date, with candidates requiring a majority of votes to be elected.

If no candidate receives a majority in the primary, the two highest vote-getters advance to a runoff election on the next general election date.

Filing period for nonpartisan judicial candidates runs from 8:00 a.m. on the last Tuesday in February through 5:00 p.m. on the last Tuesday in March of the election year.

Nonpartisan judges and candidates are prohibited from campaigning as party members, publicly identifying with a political party, endorsing other candidates, making political speeches beyond their own behalf, serving on party committees, contributing to other candidates, or sharing advertisement costs with other candidates.

Exceptions apply to judges elected prior to January 1, 2013, who may continue running in partisan elections, and to circuits where judges are selected under Missouri's constitutional merit selection provisions.