In Missouri, an uncontested local election can be cancelled when three conditions are met: the filing notice was published in a newspaper, the number of candidates for each office equals the number of seats, and there is no ballot measure on that political subdivision's ballot. When that happens, no election is held, and the candidates take office as if they had been elected (RSMo 115.124.1).
The rule covers nonpartisan elections in political subdivisions and special districts, such as school boards and fire protection districts. It covers municipal elections only in cities, towns and villages of 2,000 or fewer inhabitants that have adopted it by a vote of the people. A city of more than 2,000 people holds its municipal election even when every race is uncontested.
This explainer walks through the rule, the exceptions, and what a candidate in an uncontested race still needs to do before taking office. For the full process of running, from filing to Election Day, see our guide to running for local office in Missouri.
The rule in RSMo 115.124
Section 115.124.1 sets out the conditions. In a nonpartisan election in a political subdivision or special district, no election is held if all of the following are true:
- The filing notice was published. Before filing opens, the political subdivision or special district must notify the public of the opening filing date, the offices to be filled, the proper place for filing and the closing date (RSMo 115.127.5). For cancellation to apply, that notice must have been published in at least one newspaper of general circulation.
- The number of candidates equals the number of seats for each office on that ballot.
- No ballot measure is on that political subdivision's or special district's ballot.
If all three are true, the candidates who filed assume office as if elected. If any one of them is false, the election goes ahead.
Which elections it covers
School boards, fire districts and other special districts
School board elections, fire protection district elections and other special district elections are nonpartisan elections in a "political subdivision or special district." They are covered by 115.124.1 without a separate local vote. An uncontested school board race can therefore be cancelled if the notice was published and no ballot measure for that district is on the ballot.
For school boards, keep one detail in mind. When a district has seats with different term lengths on the same ballot, candidates declare for a specific term, and each term is voted on separately (RSMo 162.281). Whether a race is uncontested is a question about each office, not about the board as a whole.
Ambulance districts
Ambulance districts have their own parallel rule. If the number of candidates is no greater than the number of seats, no election is held (RSMo 190.050.1(2)).
Cities, towns and villages
Municipal elections are treated differently. Cancellation applies to a municipal election only if both of these are true:
- The city, town or village has 2,000 or fewer inhabitants, and
- Its voters have adopted the cancellation option by a vote of the people.
An adopted proposal lasts for the rest of that year plus six calendar years, after which it must be adopted again (RSMo 115.124.3).
Municipal elections in cities of more than 2,000 inhabitants are excluded. If you are running for city council in a city of 10,000 and nobody files against you, your name still appears on the April 6, 2027 ballot, and the election is still held. If you are not sure whether your small town has adopted the option, ask your city clerk.
Timing for the April 6, 2027 election
For the April 6, 2027 general municipal election, these dates matter:
- Filing opens December 15, 2026 and closes January 5, 2027. Unless your political subdivision sets other times by law or charter, filing opens at 8:00 a.m. and closes at 5:00 p.m. (RSMo 115.127.5). Whether a race is uncontested is known only after filing closes.
- Certification is January 26, 2027. The body calling the election must notify the election authority by 5:00 p.m. on that date (RSMo 115.125.1).
- Notice of cancellation. The election authority publishes a notice naming the candidates who will assume office, in a newspaper of general circulation, by the first of the month in which the election would have occurred. For this cycle that is April 1, 2027 (our computation from the statute).
Withdrawals do not cancel a contested race
The count that matters is the count at the close of filing. If more candidates filed than there are seats, the election is held as scheduled, even if later withdrawals bring the number of candidates down to the number of seats (RSMo 115.124.1).
If you expect an opponent to drop out, keep campaigning. A late withdrawal does not cancel a contested race.
Write-in candidates
Missouri's write-in rule requires a write-in candidate to file a declaration of intent before 5:00 p.m. on the second Friday before the election, which for this cycle is March 26, 2027 (RSMo 115.453(4)). That deadline falls well after filing closes and after notices of cancellation are being prepared.
We have not found a source that says whether a filed write-in declaration prevents the cancellation of an otherwise uncontested election. If this question affects your race, ask your election authority directly, and get the answer in writing if you can.
What a candidate in a cancelled race still has to do
A cancelled election removes the vote. It does not remove the other obligations that come with being a candidate.
Personal financial disclosure
Candidates for an elective office of a political subdivision with an annual operating budget of more than $1 million must file a personal financial disclosure statement, unless the subdivision has adopted its own conflict-of-interest ordinance or resolution and filed it with the Missouri Ethics Commission (RSMo 105.483(11), 105.485.4). The statement is due no later than 14 days after filing closes, which is January 19, 2027 (computed). If it has not been filed by the 21st day after filing closes, January 26, 2027 (computed), the Missouri Ethics Commission notifies the filing official that the candidate is disqualified, and the name is removed (RSMo 105.492.2).
An uncontested candidate who misses this deadline can lose the seat before the cancellation takes effect. Our post on mistakes that can disqualify a Missouri local candidate covers this and the other common problems.
Prior campaign reports
No one may file for office until all required campaign disclosure reports for prior elections are filed, and a winner who has not filed required reports may not take office until they are filed (RSMo 130.071). This applies to anyone who has run before.
School board training and the oath
New school board members still go through the normal steps after the election date:
- The board meets within 14 days after each election, and new members take the constitutional oath (RSMo 162.301.1).
- Members first elected or appointed must complete at least 18.5 hours of orientation and training within one year, including 2.5 hours on recognizing child sexual abuse, paid by the district (RSMo 162.203).
St. Charles County school boards
A 2026 change moves school board elections in districts mostly in St. Charles County to the November general election in even-numbered years, with four-year terms beginning with members elected in 2028 (RSMo 162.082). Whether any St. Charles County board seats appear on the April 2027 ballot should be confirmed with the St. Charles County Election Authority.
Planning when you do not yet know if your race is contested
Most candidates will not know whether they have an opponent until filing closes on January 5, 2027. Until then, plan as though the race will be contested. That means gathering supporters, collecting permission to contact them, and setting up the tools you will use from January to April.
Keep your supporters informed with CampaignCNX+
Build your supporter list during the fall and tell them what happened as soon as filing closes. In CampaignCNX+, add the people who gave you written permission to text them, and tag them by group, such as "volunteers" or "yard sign hosts." On January 6, send one short message to the right group: either "the race is on, here is how you can help" or "no one else filed, and here is what happens next." Replies come into a two-way inbox, and anyone who replies STOP is removed automatically.
Before you can text as a campaign, your committee needs Campaign Verify (a check that confirms to the carriers, meaning the mobile phone companies, that you are a real campaign). Campaign Verify requires a 527 committee (the tax status of a political committee) with an EIN (the committee's federal tax ID number) and a filing published online by an election authority. Our post on texting voters in a Missouri local race explains the Missouri setup, and our guide to political texting covers consent and registration in general.
Frequently asked questions
Is my school board race cancelled if only two people file for two seats?
It can be, if the filing notice was published in a newspaper of general circulation and no ballot measure for the district is on the April ballot (RSMo 115.124.1). If the seats have different term lengths, each term is counted separately. Your election authority will publish a notice naming the candidates who will take office.
My city has 8,000 people and I am unopposed. Is the election cancelled?
No. Municipal elections in cities of more than 2,000 inhabitants are excluded from cancellation, so the election is held and your name appears on the ballot.
An opponent withdrew in February. Does that cancel the race?
No. If more candidates filed than there are seats, the election is held as scheduled even if withdrawals later reduce the number (RSMo 115.124.1).
Do I still need to file a personal financial disclosure if my race is cancelled?
If your political subdivision's budget is over $1 million and it has not adopted its own conflict-of-interest ordinance, yes. The deadline is January 19, 2027 (computed), and missing the January 26 cutoff leads to removal (RSMo 105.487, 105.492.2).
Start your supporter list now
Whether or not your race ends up contested, a list of supporters who agreed to hear from you is worth building now. Open an account, set up your groups, and choose your number when you are ready. 100 free SMS included. Your number is $5 a month.