The City of St. Louis holds its municipal primary on Tuesday, March 2, 2027 and its general municipal election on Tuesday, April 6, 2027. In 2027 the offices on the ballot are President of the Board of Aldermen, the alderpersons for the even-numbered wards, and seats on the St. Louis Public Schools (SLPS) Board of Education. Candidates for President of the Board and alderperson file with the Board of Election Commissioners (BOEC) and must submit a Certificate of Nomination, a petition signed by registered voters equal to at least 2% of the votes cast for Mayor at the relevant earlier election.
St. Louis does not follow the same calendar as most Missouri cities. The city holds a March primary before the April general, and its filing period for municipal offices is set from that primary. This explainer covers what is on the ballot, the petition, fees, qualifications and filing. A short section at the end covers Kansas City. For the statewide picture, start with our guide to running for local office in Missouri.
The 2027 election dates
- Municipal primary: Tuesday, March 2, 2027. The City of St. Louis holds its primary on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in March of odd-numbered years. The Secretary of State's 2027 calendar lists March 2 for charter cities and charter counties only.
- General municipal election: Tuesday, April 6, 2027, the first Tuesday after the first Monday in April of odd-numbered years.
These dates come from the BOEC's "Election Dates and Candidate Filing Deadlines" page and the Secretary of State's 2027 calendar.
What is on the ballot in 2027
- President of the Board of Aldermen.
- Alderpersons for the even-numbered wards.
- SLPS Board of Education. Board elections are held during odd-year municipal elections. Two of the seven members are elected at the general election rather than the primary.
The Mayor, the Comptroller and the odd-numbered wards are next on the ballot in 2029.
When filing opens and closes
For the municipal offices (Mayor, President of the Board, Comptroller and alderperson), the BOEC's rule is that filing opens at 8:00 a.m. 100 days before the primary and closes at 5:00 p.m. 60 days before the primary.
For 2027, that formula lands on a Sunday in November and on New Year's Day, so the actual adjusted dates are not clear from the rule alone. The BOEC had not published the exact 2027 dates when we checked. Call the BOEC at 314-622-4336 to confirm the opening and closing dates before you plan your petition drive.
For the SLPS Board of Education, the BOEC's rule is 8:00 a.m. on the seventeenth Tuesday before the election to 5:00 p.m. on the fourteenth Tuesday before. It is not clear whether that count runs from the March primary or the April general in 2027, so confirm those dates with the BOEC as well.
The Certificate of Nomination (the 2% petition)
Candidates for Mayor, President of the Board of Aldermen, Comptroller and alderperson must submit a Certificate of Nomination with their declaration. This is the petition that shows you have support from voters.
How many signatures
- Alderperson: signatures equal to at least 2% of the votes cast for Mayor in your ward at the last general municipal election.
- Citywide offices, including President of the Board: at least 2% of the votes cast for Mayor at the previous mayoral election.
Ask the BOEC for the exact number for your office or ward. Because some signatures are usually found invalid, many campaigns aim to collect more than the minimum. That is common practice, not a legal rule.
Who can sign and how pages are completed
- Signers must be registered voters of the city, or of the ward for an alderperson petition.
- The circulator (the person who collects the signatures) signs each page before a notary.
Why the timing of your signatures matters
Ballot position is set when the BOEC receives the required number of verified signatures. If two candidates tie, the tie goes to the candidate with more verified signatures. Turning in a complete, clean petition early can help your place on the ballot.
Fees and tax clearance
Along with the petition, you file:
- A Treasurer's receipt showing the filing fee was paid: $100 for alderperson, and $250 for Mayor, President of the Board or Comptroller.
- A Collector of Revenue clearance showing no delinquent taxes and no unpaid water or refuse bills, together with a sworn affidavit.
These local requirements sit on top of the statewide rules. Every Missouri candidate also files the Affirmation of Tax Payments and Bonding Requirements with the Department of Revenue and includes a copy with the declaration (RSMo 115.306.2(2)), and the City of St. Louis adds collector receipts or no-tax-due statements (RSMo 115.306.2(4)). Our post on filing a declaration of candidacy in Missouri covers the statewide steps.
Qualifications for alderperson
To serve as an alderperson in the City of St. Louis, a candidate must:
- Be a U.S. citizen for five years.
- Be a resident of the city for three years.
- Be at least 25 years old.
- Be a resident of the ward for one year.
- Have been an assessed city taxpayer for two years.
- Have no conviction for malfeasance, bribery or other corrupt practice.
Missouri's statewide felony bar also applies to every candidate (RSMo 115.306.1). For President of the Board of Aldermen, confirm the qualifications with the BOEC before you file.
Running for the SLPS Board of Education
SLPS board candidates file in person at the BOEC with proof of identity and pay a $100 fee. To serve, a member must be at least 24, a U.S. citizen, and a resident and citizen of the city for three years. Members may hold no other city or state office except notary public and may have no interest in board contracts (RSMo 162.581.1).
Withdrawing
A candidate in the municipal primary may withdraw by 5:00 p.m. 50 days before the election, according to the BOEC.
Campaign finance in a city over 100,000
The City of St. Louis has more than 100,000 people, so the stricter campaign finance rule applies. A municipal candidate can skip forming a committee only if contributions and expenditures stay at $500 or less, no contributor gives more than $325, and the candidate files a sworn exemption statement with the Missouri Ethics Commission (RSMo 130.016.1). The Missouri Ethics Commission is the filing officer for municipal candidates in cities over 100,000, and reports filed there are filed electronically (RSMo 130.026). Our post on running for city council or alderman in Missouri covers the campaign itself.
Reaching ward voters between the primary and the general
With a March primary and an April general, St. Louis candidates who advance have about five weeks to bring their supporters back for a second election. Text messages are one way to keep those supporters informed.
Set up CampaignCNX+ before the primary
Once your committee is on file with the MEC, open a CampaignCNX+ account and enter the committee name exactly as it appears on your filing. We guide you through Campaign Verify (a check that confirms to the carriers, meaning the mobile phone companies, that you are a real campaign) and file your carrier registration for you. Import the supporters who gave written permission to receive your texts and tag them by ward and by role, such as "petition volunteer" or "yard sign." The day after the primary, send one short message to each group with the next date that matters. Messages go out only between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m., and STOP replies are handled automatically. Our guide to political texting explains consent and registration.
A petition signature is not permission to text. Only text people who agreed to receive texts, with a recorded date.
Kansas City
Kansas City's 2027 municipal election dates have not yet been published. The Kansas City Board of Election Commissioners has said its 2027 calendar will be published in accordance with state law. Check with the Kansas City Board of Election Commissioners for dates and filing deadlines. City office candidates file through the City Clerk's Office (816-513-3360), and school board candidates should contact their board secretary.
Frequently asked questions
Which St. Louis wards are on the ballot in 2027?
The even-numbered wards, along with President of the Board of Aldermen and SLPS board seats. The odd-numbered wards, Mayor and Comptroller are next on the ballot in 2029.
How many signatures do I need to run for alderperson?
At least 2% of the votes cast for Mayor in your ward at the last general municipal election. Ask the BOEC for the exact number.
When does filing open in St. Louis for 2027?
The rule is 100 days before the March 2 primary to 60 days before it, but the exact adjusted 2027 dates were not published when we checked. Call the BOEC at 314-622-4336.
What does it cost to file?
$100 for alderperson and SLPS board, and $250 for Mayor, President of the Board or Comptroller.
Get ready for the primary
Open your account, organize your opted-in supporters by ward, and choose your number when your committee is ready. 100 free SMS included. Your number is $5 a month.