Candidate filing period begins Monday

Feb. 10 is the last day to apply for voter registration in order to be eligible to vote in the March 7 Statewide Election.

Persons who are United States Citizens, residents of Oklahoma, and at least 17 ½ years old are eligible to apply for voter registration. However, you must be at least 18 years old to vote.

Applications must be received by the County Election Board or postmarked no later than February 10. Applications postmarked after February 10 will be accepted but will not be processed until after the March 7 election.

Applications may also be submitted to any motor vehicle agency that is an official voter registration agency by the submission deadline.

Approved applicants will receive a Voter Identification Card in the mail. Some may receive a letter that explains the reason or reasons the application was not approved.

Those who do not receive a response within 30 days of submitting their application should contact the County Election Board office immediately.

The Okmulgee County Election Board reminds voters that applications must be approved by the County Election Board Secretary in order to vote.

Registered voters who have moved to Okmulgee County from a different county or state will need to complete a new Voter Registration Application to be eligible for elections in Okmulgee County.

If you have moved within the county and need to update your address, you may make changes online using the OK Voter Portal at oklahoma.gov/elections/ ovp or complete a Voter Registration Application.

Voter Registration Applications can be downloaded from the State Election Board website at oklahoma. gov/elections. You may also complete a form at any County Election Board. Most post offices, tag agencies, and public libraries have applications available upon request.

County residents seeking municipal offices can begin doing so on Monday at the Okmulgee County Courthouse.

Candidate filings will be held for the City of Beggs, Henryetta, Morris, and Town of Dewar, from 8 a.m. Feb. 6 through Feb. 8 at 5 p.m.

Ashley Carnes, Secretary of the Okmulgee County Election Board, said Declaration of Candidacy forms must be completed and notarized by a public notary and submitted and filed with the Okmulgee County Election Board by the Wednesday deadline.

Carnes reminds voters that Contests of Candidacy must be filed by Friday, Feb. 10, and may only be filed by another candidate for that office.

Declarations of Candidacy will be accepted for the following offices for a four (4) year term for the following cities:

City of Henryetta

• Councilmember Ward 1

• Councilmember Ward 2 --- Town of Dewar

Board of Trustee Office 1 Board of Trustee Office 3 --- City of Morris

• Mayor

• Councilmember Ward 1

• Councilmember Ward 2 --- City of Beggs

• City Clerk

• City Treasurer

• Councilmember Ward 2

• Councilmember Ward 3 (2-year unexpired term)

• Councilmember Ward 4 - Each candidate must be qualified by being a resident and registered voter within the municipality and of the ward if an office is from a ward for at least six (6) months prior to filing a declaration of candidacy. The municipal offices will be filled in the nonpartisan Statutory Municipal General Election scheduled for April 4, if more than one candidate files for an office.

Declaration of Candidacy forms can be downloaded from the State Election Board website at oklahoma.gov/elections or by contacting your County Election Board office at 918-756-2365 or OkmulgeeCounty@elections.ok.gov.

Carnes also reminds county voters about the upcoming deadline for the March 7 election.