Election filing period will begin on Monday
Election filing period begins today

By John Greiner

Published: June 2, 2008

One of Oklahoma's bigger contests — the race for public office — kicks off today with the three-day filing period for federal, state and county offices.

Oklahomans are converging on the state Election Board at the state Capitol to file for offices ranging from U.S. Senate to state Legislature.

Other Oklahomans will be going to their local county election boards to file for county offices.

The state and county election boards will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Wednesday for candidates to file.

There are 133 seats being filled this year at the state level, and 125 are legislative seats, said Michael Clingman, state election board secretary.

There will be some openings in the Legislature this time because of legislative term limits and because some incumbents decided not to run again.

Republicans control the state House of Representatives with 57 members to 44 for the Democrats.

The state Senate is evenly divided — 24 Republicans and 24 Democrats.

Both parties think they will take over the Senate this election year.

Clingman said people filing for office must present a cashier's check or a certified check for their filing fees.

The law also permits a candidate to file by petition.

The person must present a petition signed by at least 5 percent of the registered voters eligible in the first election in which the candidate will appear.

Rarely does someone file by petition. When a candidate does use a petition, they also usually presents a filing fee because signatures on the petition could be subject to a challenge by an opponent.

The deadline to withdraw as a candidate or challenge a candidacy is 5 p.m. Friday.

Withdrawals and challenges of county candidates will be made at the county election board where the candidate filed. They will be made at the state election board for candidates for federal or state offices.

Federal and state offices on this year's ballot include U.S. Senate, five U.S. House seats, two Corporation Commissioner seats, 101 state House of Representative seats and 24 state Senate seats.

County offices on this year's election ballot will be court clerk, county clerk, county sheriff, and District 2 county commissioner seats.

Comments