Ballot Emblems

(and commonly known national party symbols)

The political parties submit to the Secretary of State's Office party symbols for the Missouri ballot. Section 115.385 of the Missouri Revised Statutes states that, "Not later than the twelfth Tuesday before an election at which the party's name will appear on the ballot, the state committee of each established statewide political party, the chairman of the county or district committee of each political party established for a county or district, and the provisional party chairman of each new party and group of petitioners shall select a party emblem and submit it in writing to the secretary of state."

After this emblem is submitted, the Secretary of State certifies it to the election authorities for ballot publication. It is important here to note the distinction between these state party ballot emblems and commonly known national party symbols.

Because the state parties submit their ballot emblems with the secretary of state's office, there may be differences between the state registered ballot emblems and the commonly known national party symbols. For instance, the commonly recognized party symbols for the democrats and republicans are the donkey and the elephant. Prior to 2004 the ballot emblem of the Missouri Democrat party was The Goddess Liberty. In 2004 the state ballot emblem of the Democrat party became a kicking donkey.

The commonly recognized party symbol of the Libertarian party is the Statute of Liberty. Because the Democrat party was already using Lady Liberty, Missouri Libertarians selected another ballot emblem. From 1996 to 2004, the Missouri Libertarian Party used the Missouri Mule as their official ballot emblem but in 2004 changed their emblem to the Statue of Liberty, matching their national party emblem.

The Missouri Republican Party ballot emblem and National Party symbol (the elephant) are the same.