Candidate Filing Information

County Offices – August 4, 2026 Primary Election

County Candidates Filed August 2026

County Candidate Information – August 4, 2026 Primary Election 

When to File:

Filing begins on Tuesday, February 24, 2026 at 8:00 a.m.
Filing ends on Tuesday, March 31, 2026 at 5:00 p.m.

Where to File:

Cape Girardeau County Clerk’s Office
1908 County Courthouse (Copper Dome)
100 Court St., Suite 301
Jackson, MO 63755

Notice of Offices Which Candidates are to be Nominated at the August 4, 2026 Primary Election

Filing will take place for the following County Offices:

Associate Circuit Judge, Division 4

Associate Circuit Judge, Division 7

Presiding Commissioner

County Auditor 

Circuit Court Clerk

County Clerk

County Collector of Revenue 

Prosecuting Attorney

Recorder of Deeds 

County Office Candidate Qualifications

Ballot Placement:

First day filers will select a number by random drawing to determine placement on the primary ballot.  After the first day, candidates are placed on the ballot in the order of their filing.

How to File:

To appear as a candidate for nomination on the primary ballot, candidates must do the following at the County Clerk’s office during the filing period. (Forms will be provided by the County Clerk’s Office).

1. Show identification;
2. Submit a $100.00 filing fee (cash or check) payable to the County Committee for the Political Party in which they are filing;
3. File a Declaration of Candidacy;
4. Complete the Form 5120 Candidate’s Affidavit of Tax Payments and file with the Department of Revenue; and
5. Complete the Notice to Candidate for the Missouri Ethics Commission.

You may file Form 5120 electronically here. If you file online, you must have a  receipt at time of filing.

Independent Candidates:

Individuals interested in filing as an independent candidate for Cape Girardeau County Elected Offices must do so by filing a petition with the Cape Girardeau County Clerk’s Office by 5:00 p.m. on July 27, 2026.  The petition shall be signed by the number of registered voters in the district or county which is equal to at least two percent of the total number of voters who voted at the last election for candidates for the office being sought or is equal to ten thousand voters, whichever is less. The name of each person who files a valid petition for nomination as an independent candidate will be placed on the ballot at the November 3, 2026 General Election as an Independent Candidate.