A House panel has endorsed legislation that moves Missouri's primary elections to June.
Missouri now holds party primaries in even numbered years on the Tuesday after the first Monday in August. But the measure adopted by the committee would move the primaries to the first Tuesday after the third Monday in June.
The bill would take effect in 2016, meaning the primary date in that year would be June 21, instead of Aug. 9.
Sponsoring Rep. Tony Dugger, of Hartville, says earlier primaries would give candidates more time to compete for November's general election. But some House members argue that lawmakers would have to campaign more aggressively during the legislative session, which runs through mid-May.
The House Elections Committee voted 9-2 in favor of the bill on Tuesday.