Callaway County Primary candidate filing begins February 24 | The Locally Times
Callaway's August primary filing opens Feb. 24, the same day Cole County begins absentee voting for its April municipal election.
Candidate filing for the August 4, 2026, Primary Election in Callaway County will open on February 24, 2026, according to a notice from the Callaway County Clerk. Public records related to the filing period do not specify which county offices are included on the August ballot, the final deadline for candidates to submit paperwork, or the process and eligibility requirements. ## Cole County Sees Parallel Election Activity In neighboring Cole County, February 24 also marks the start of absentee voting for the April 7, 2026, Municipal Election. A Cole County Government notice states that residents can cast absentee ballots through February 27. On the same day, several Cole County government bodies, including the County Commission, Clerk, Treasurer, and Recorder of Deeds, have scheduled meetings. Posted agendas show that some of the same departments will also participate in a county bid opening on February 26. ## Region Faces Multiple Administrative Deadlines The start of the filing and voting periods adds to a crowded schedule of civic deadlines across the region. The Missouri Ethics Commission has set a February 23 deadline for candidates in a separate March 3 election to submit their 8-Day Before Election campaign finance reports. Other regional institutions also have approaching deadlines. Westminster College will hold its “1851 Challenge” fundraising event from February 25-26. State Technical College of Missouri has set an April 1 priority deadline for students to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the 2026-2027 academic year. Also on April 1, Cole County Public Works must submit its stormwater permit renewal application to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.