115.357. Filing fees — declaration of inability to pay, form of. — 1. Except as provided in subsections 3 and 4 of this section, each candidate for federal, state or county office shall, before filing his or her declaration of candidacy, pay to the treasurer of the state or county committee of the political party upon whose ticket he or she seeks nomination a certain sum of money as follows:
(1) To the treasurer of the state central committee, five hundred dollars if he or she is a candidate for statewide office or for United States senator, three hundred dollars if he or she is a candidate for representative in Congress, circuit judge or state senator, and one hundred fifty dollars if he or she is a candidate for state representative;
(2) To the treasurer of the county central committee, one hundred dollars if he or she is a candidate for county office.
2. The required sum may be submitted by the candidate to the official accepting his or her declaration of candidacy, except that a candidate required to file his or her declaration of candidacy with the secretary of state shall pay the required sum directly to the treasurer of the appropriate party committee. All sums submitted to the official accepting the candidate's declaration of candidacy shall be forwarded promptly by the official to the treasurer of the appropriate party committee.
3. Any person who cannot pay the fee required to file as a candidate may have the fee waived by filing a declaration of inability to pay and a petition with his declaration of candidacy. Each such declaration shall be in substantially the following form:
4. No filing fee shall be required of any person who proposes to be an independent candidate, the candidate of a new party or a candidate for presidential elector.
5. Except as provided in subsections 3 and 4 of this section, no candidate's name shall be printed on any official ballot until the required fee has been paid.
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(L. 1977 H.B. 101 § 10.117, A.L. 1983 S.B. 234, A.L. 2020 S.B. 631)