Tuesday's filing deadline only affects candidates running in a recognized political party - Democrat, Republican, Libertarian and Constitution.
Those parties' nominees for the Nov. 4 general election officially are decided with the winners of Missouri's Aug. 5 primary election - and people who lose in a primary campaign cannot get on the November ballot through another means.
But the November ballot also can list "independent" candidates, who are not running as a member of, or with the official support of, any political party, and there is a space for write-in candidates, as well.
Independent candidates have until July 28 to file with the secretary of state (for federal, state and judicial offices) or the county clerk (for county offices or associate circuit judge positions).
Independent candidates must submit a petition showing some support for their being part of the election ballot.
For statewide offices - this year, the state auditor - those petitions must contain signatures from at least 10,000 registered voters.
For district offices - Congress, Legislature or circuit judge - or county offices, the petitions must contain the signatures of registered voters in that district or county equal to at least 2 percent of the total number of votes that were cast at the last election for that specific office, or at least 10,000 voters, whichever is the smaller target.
More information about filing as an independent candidate can be found on the secretary of state's website, at www.sos.mo.gov/elections/2014general/indep_candidate.asp.
While independent candidates' names will be listed on the November ballot, write-in candidates' names will not - and those candidates have fewer rules to follow to have their names counted.
They must file a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate with the election authority for that office - secretary of state for congressional, statewide, legislative or circuit court positions, and county clerk for county offices and associate circuit judges - no later than 5 p.m. on the second Friday before the election.
This year, that would be Oct. 24.
No declaration of candidacy is needed if there are no other candidates in the race for that office.
More information about write-in candidates can be found on the secretary of state's website, at www.sos.mo.gov/elections/2014general/2014write_in.asp.