Candidate filing starts for board of education

Candidate filing starts for Board of Education Dec. 1 for 17 Leflore County school districts.

Those who wish to file for a Board of Education office must submit a declaration of candidacy to the LeFlore County Election Board Dec. 1, 2 or 3, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Candidate filing packets are available on the State Election Board website at https://oklahoma.gov/elections/candidates/candidate–filing.html and at the County Election Board.

In addition to the Declaration of Candidacy, candidates must also submit a Voter Registration Verification Form, which can be obtained from the County Election Board or by logging into the OK Voter Portal at https://oklahoma.gov/elections/ovp.html. Information on the Voter Registration Verification Form must match the information provided on the Declaration of Candidacy.

Kayla Rees, Secretary of the Leflore County Election Board, reminds candidates that Contests of Candidacy must be filed no later than Friday, December 5th by 5 p.m. and may only be filed by another candidate for that office. Contests against unopposed candidates may be filed by contacting the County Election Board.

If more than two candidates file for the same Board of Education seat, a Primary Election will be held Feb. 10. If one candidate receives more than 50 percent of the votes, that candidate will be named the elected official. If no candidate receives more than 50 percent of the votes, the two candidates receiving the highest number of votes will vie for the seat during the Board of Education General Election, April 7. If only two candidates file for the same Board of Education seat, those two candidates’ names will appear on the General Election ballot in April.

Declarations of Candidacy will be accepted for the following offices:

Arkoma 1-91School District, Office No. 1—Bokoshe 1-26, Office No. 1—Cameron 1-17 Office No. 1—Fanshawe C-39 Office No. 1— Heavener 1-3 Office No 1—Hodgen C-14 Office No 1— Howe 1-67 Office No. 1—LeFlore 1-16 Office No. 1— Monroe C-11Office No 1—Panama 1-20— Pocola 1-7 Office No. 1—

Poteau 1-29 office No.1— Shady Point C-4 Office No. 1— Spiro 1-2 Office No. 1—

Talihina 1-52 Office No.1— Whitesboro 1-62 Office No. 1— Wister 1-49 Office No.1

For more information, contact the County Election Board office at 918-647-3701 or email

leflorecounty@elections.ok.gov. The Leflore County Election Board is located at

103 North Church in Poteau and is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

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