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The Missouri House gave initial approval to legislation that would move the state's primary elections to June.

Party primaries for Congress, the state Legislature and statewide offices are currently held in even-numbered years on the Tuesday after the first Monday in August. But the bill endorsed on Wednesday would move the primaries to the first Tuesday after the third Monday in June.

A House panel has endorsed legislation that moves Missouri's primary elections to June.

Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander is backing legislation that could make it easier for deployed military members to run for office.

Kander said Thursday that he will push legislation next year allowing deployed members of the Armed Forces to use a proxy to file their candidacy papers with the secretary of state's office.

Candidate filing for the 2014 primary elections will run from Feb. 25 to March 25.