Candidates for the Board of Education in four Jefferson County school districts will file Declarations of Candidacy beginning 8 a.m. Monday, December 5, 2022. 

Richardson, Secretary of the Jefferson County Election Board, said Declaration of Candidacy forms must be completed and submitted to the County Election Board no later than 5 p.m. Wednesday, December 7, 2022, when the filing period ends. Richardson reminds voters that Contests of Candidacy must be filed no later than Friday, December 9, 2022, 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 vacant Board of Education position, a Primary Election will be held Tuesday, February 14, 2023, if one candidate receives more than 50% of the votes, that candidate will be named the elected official. If no candidate receives more than 50% of the votes, the two candidates receiving the highest number of votes will vie for the vacant position during the Board of Education General Election, April 4, 2023, if only two candidates file for the same vacant Board of Education position, those two candidates’ names will appear on the General Election ballot in April. 

Declarations of Candidacy will be accepted for the following offices:

Ringling School District, Office No. 3-5 year term 

Ringling School District, Office No. 5-2 year unexpired term

Waurika School District, Office No. 3-5 year term

Terral School District, Office No. 3-3 year term

Ryan School District, Office No. 3-5 year term

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 580.228.3150 or Jefferson County@elections.ok.gov

The Jefferson County Election Board is located at 220 North Main-Room 203 Waurika and is open from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

 Friday, December 9 is the last day to apply for voter registration in order to be eligible to vote in the January 10 Terral Public School Annexation Election Jefferson County Election Board Secretary Tammy Richardson said today.

Richardson said that 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 midnight, December 9 Applications postmarked after that time will be accepted, but will not be processed until after the Terral Public Schools Annexation Election. Applications may also be submitted to any motor vehicle agency that is also an official voter registration agency by the submission deadline. 

Applicants will be notified in writing when their application has been processed. Approved voters 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. Richardson said those who do not receive a response within 30 days of submitting their application should contact the County Election Board office immediately.

The Jefferson 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 Jefferson County from a different county or state will need to complete a new Voter Registration Application in order to be eligible for elections in Jefferson 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 your County Election Board. Most post offices, tag agencies, and public libraries have applications available upon request.

The Jefferson County Election Board is located at 220 North Main-Room 203 Waurika, OK and is open from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.  For questions, please contact the Election Board at 580-228-3150 or JeffersonCounty@elections.ok.gov

You can also find Jefferson County Election Board on Facebook

Voters in Jefferson County who want absentee ballots mailed to them for the January 10 Terral School District Proposed Annexation should apply now, County Election Board Secretary Tammy Richardson said today.

Absentee ballots are available to any registered voter, provided they are eligible to vote in the election requested. No excuse is needed to vote by absentee ballot.

The deadline for requesting an absentee ballot is 5 p.m. Monday, December 26.  Voters can submit a request using the OK Voter Portal at oklahoma.gov/elections/ovp. Request forms are also available at oklahoma.gov/elections and at the County Election Board office located at 220 North Main Street-Room 203, Waurika

Richardson reminds voters to allow time for an absentee ballot to be received, completed, and returned by mail to the County Election Board. “With some exceptions, all absentee ballot affidavits must be notarized before being returned. Voters should give themselves plenty of time to make sure all steps have been followed and that the ballot is returned correctly in order to be counted,” Richardson said. 

Voters exempt from having an absentee ballot affidavit notarized include those who are physically incapacitated and those who care for physically incapacitated individuals that cannot be left alone. Voters who request a “physically incapacitated” ballot must have their absentee ballot affidavit witnessed by two people.

Military personnel and residents living overseas, along with their spouses and dependents are also eligible for certain allowances. Military personnel should contact Voting Service Officers in their units for absentee application forms. Residents living overseas may obtain absentee voting applications from any United States military installation or United States Embassy or Consulate. Military personnel and overseas citizens who are already registered voters in Oklahoma may apply for absentee ballots using the OK Voter Portal at oklahoma.gov/elections/ovp. Those who need to complete a new Voter Registration Application should apply through the Federal Voting Assistance Program at  FVAP.gov.

All completed absentee ballots must be in the hands of the County Election Board no later than 7 p.m. on Election Day. 

The Jefferson County Election Board is located at 220 North Main Street-Room 203 and is open from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.  For questions, please contact the Election Board at 580-228-3150 or JeffersonCounty@elections.ok.gov