Missouri is holding presidential primaries on February 7 for the Democratic, Republican, Libertarian, and Constitution Parties. The Republican Party of Missouri has already said that the presidential primary results will not be used to determine the national convention delegates. Instead the Republican Party will choose delegates at caucuses in March.

Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan, a Democrat, has this op-ed in the Kansas City Star, urging voters to vote, even though the Republican primary is just a beauty contest. However, her op-ed does not say that if the Missouri Republican Party were to use the primary, it would be in violation of national party rules and would run the risk of losing half its delegates.

Missouri will print up presidential primary ballots for each of the qualified parties, even if no one files in any particular party’s primary. Missouri permits write-ins in presidential primaries. To get on the ballot, a candidate must pay $1,000. So far, no one has signed up for the presidential primary ballots of the Democratic, Libertarian or Constitution Parties, but filing doesn’t close until November 22. Republicans who have already filed for the “beauty contest” primary so far are Herman Cain, Gary Johnson, Michael Meehan, Mitt Romney, and Rick Perry. Thanks to Nancy Hanks for the link.