Filing period for Council candidacy opens November 14

Citizens interested in running for a City Council seat in April 2024 may pick up their nominating petitions from the City Clerk starting Tuesday, November 14th.

Petitions must be returned to the City Clerk by 5 p.m., Tuesday, January 9, 2024, to be eligible for the April 2, 2024 election.

The Council will have four seats on the ballot, including two general seats and the seat in both Zone 2 and Zone 3. Currently, Keenan Cortez and Christina Williams hold the general seats. Chuck Copple holds the Zone 2 seat and Phil Stinnett holds the seat in Zone 3. All seats would be elected for a term of four years.

To be eligible, citizens are required to be qualified voters and have been a Joplin resident for at least four years immediately before the election. Those who are seeking election within Council Zone 2 or 3 should be residents and qualified voters within the respective zone that they file as a candidate. Candidates will also be required to show their voter identification card to the City Clerk when applying for the election.

Nominations of candidates for all elective offices shall be by petition. General seat candidates should obtain 150 signatures from registered Joplin voters throughout the city.  Zone candidates will need to obtain 150 signatures from registered Joplin voters, with 75 of those coming from the represented zone.  Zone elections are included in the citywide ballot. All candidates will also be required to sign a declaration of candidacy with the City Clerk’s office.

Candidates can seek the state requirements for filing financial reports on their campaigns through the Missouri Ethics Commission.

The City Clerk will provide a booklet on Council Election Guidelines to interested parties.

For more information, contact the Joplin City Clerk on the second floor of City Hall, 602 South Main, or call 624-0820, ext. 1220.