Despite the impact COVID-19 has had on Okmulgee County, candidates for four local offices well as the state posts will have to put their names on the line Wednesday, April 8.
County election board secretary Ashley Carnes said the filing period will start at 8 that morning and run through 5 p.m. Friday, April 10. State office seekers will be filing with the Secretary of the State Election Board in Oklahoma City.
The county court house has been on virtual lockdown for the past week due to the virus but candidates for local offices will still be allowed in. Only one candidate at a time will be allowed in the election board office and each candidate must tell the deputy at the security desk they are wanting to file.
“Those applications must be notarized but all candidates will have to find a notary either at a bank or tag office,” Carnes said.
Offices open this year in Okmulgee County include county clerk, court clerk, sheriff and District 2 county commissioner.
To file as a candidate for any county office, a person must have been a registered voter and have maintained a current principal residence within the county for the six-month period immediately preceding the first day of the filing period. Provided, to file as a candidate for the office of county commissioner, a person must have been a registered voter within the county commissioner district for the six-month period immediately preceding the first day of the filing period. To file as a candidate for nomination by a political party to any state or county office, a person must have been a registered voter of that party for the six-month period immediately preceding the first day of the filing period prescribed by law. To file as an independent candidate for any state or county office, a person must have been registered to vote as an independent for the six-month period immediately preceding the first day of the filing period prescribed by law. For more election-related information, call the County Election Board at 918-756-2365, or visit www.elections.ok.gov.