2009 MUNICIPAL ELECTION CALENDAR
(For Municipalities NOT under the Town Meeting Act)
January Su M Tu W Th F Sa
1 4 5 6 7 14 21 28 8 15 11 12 13 18 19 20 25 26 27 2 9 16 3 10 17
February Su M Tu W Th F Sa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
15 22 16 23 17 24 18 25 19 26 20 27 21 28
March Su M Tu W Th F Sa
1 8 15 22 29 2 9 16 3 10 17 4 11 18 5 12 19 6 13 20 27 7 14 21 28
22 23 24 29 30 31
23 24 25 26 30 31
January 16th: Filing of Notice of Election Resolution
The NOTICE OF ELECTION resolution may be filed with the secretary of the county election board at anytime, but must be filed no fewer than 15 days before the filing period begins, or January 16th. The governing body of each municipality must provide the county election board a current map of the municipality, which includes limits and ward boundaries, and a copy of their charter, if any, as it applies to the conduct of elections. (26 O.S. §§ 13-102, 13-107, 13-109). After the resolution is filed with the county election board, the resolution with a notation of acceptance from the county election board shall be filed with the Oklahoma Tax Commission to insure state monies are distributed to the municipality (11 O.S. § 16-103.1).
January 23th: Publication of Notice of Election Resolution
The Notice of Election Resolution must be published in a newspaper of general circulation at least 10 days before the beginning of the filing period. If there is no newspaper of general circulation, in the municipality, (See 11 O.S. § 1-102 (8) and 25 O.S. § 106 for the definition of publication and legal newspapers) the notice shall be given by posting a copy of the Notice of Election Resolution in at least five (5) public places in the municipality. (11 O.S. § 16-101).
January 30th: Salary Changes
If the governing body wishes to consider a change in salary for the newly elected officials, an ordinance must be passed before the filing period begins on February 2nd. (If an office is contested, -meaning an election will have to be held- salary changes may be made up to the election date.) The change in salary will only apply to those officials whose terms begin after the election. (Sample ordinances available from OML)
February 2nd - 4th : Filing Period
The Declaration of Candidacy for party nominees and independents must be filed with the county election board. A person must, for at l east six months prior to filing a declaration of candidacy, be a registered voter at an address within the municipality or in the ward if an office is from a ward. The filing period is from
8:00 a.m. on the first Monday in February until 5:00 p.m. on the following Wednesday (11 O.S. §§ 16-109, 16-110). Persons filing declarations of candidacy shall not be required to post a filing fee, nor shall they be required to file petitions supporting their candidacies (26 O.S. § 13-104). Candidates must file notarized forms including their name, residence, and mailing address, office sought, date of birth, party affiliation, if any, precinct and county where registered, an oath affirming the candidate is qualified for the office being sought and qualified to hold the office, if elected, and any additional information the election board secretary deems necessary. All signatures must be original. These forms are available from the county election board (26 O.S. §§ 5-111, 5-111.1, and 13-105). A Designation of Agent should be filed with the municipal clerk within ten (10) days of accepting or spending in excess of $500. The agent, who may be the candidate, receives contributions and makes expenditures on behalf of the candidate’s campaign (51 O.S. § 313, 325).
February 6 th: Contesting Candidacy and Withdrawing
The final day to challenge the qualifications of candidates or to withdraw candidacy for the primary election (26 O.S. §§ 5-115, 5-119).
January 19th – 26th: 1st Campaign Report Due
The first campaign contribution and expenditure report is due on or before the 10 th day preceding the date of the Primary Election and shall include all contributions accepted and all expenditures made from the date on which the earliest contribution was received or contribution made, whichever was earlier through a period of time ending 15 days before the date of the Primary Election. It must cover the date from when the first contribution was received or expenditure was made, through 15 days before the Primary Election (51 O.S. §315) If you do not have a Primary Election, the first campaign contribution and expenditure report is due March 24th. The campaign contribution and expenditure report shall be filed with the city or town clerk. The Ethics Commission will be mailing the following materials to all cities and town who order them: Political Subdivisions Ethics Act, instruction manual, and forms booklet. The cost is $50.00 for five sets. The Ethics Commission phone number is 405-521-3451. *No reporting is required of candidates or committees who do not exceed $500 in total contributions or expenditures (51 O.S. § 325).
February 10th: Primary Election
The primary election in cities and towns having partisan elections shall be held the second Tuesday in February in each odd-numbered year (11 O.S. § 16-107). No primary election is conducted in cities and towns holding nonpartisan elections (11 O.S. § 16-105.1).
February 11th - 13th: Contesting Results
This is the time period for contesting the correctness of the announced results of the primary election. Contests of the election must be filed by 5:00 p.m. on February 13th (26 O.S. § 8-109).
March 17th - 24th: 2nd Campaign Reports Due*
The second campaign contribution and expenditure report is due and shall be filed on or before the 10 th day preceding the General Election. This will be the first campaign report for those who do not have a primary election. It shall include all contributions and expenditures made from the close of the first reporting period through 15 days before the election. The report shall be filed with the city or town clerk. *No reporting is required of candidates or committees who do not exceed $500 in total contributions or expenditures (51 O.S. § 325). (OVER)
April Su M Tu W Th F Sa
1 5 12 6 13 2 3 17 24 4
May Su M Tu W Th F Sa
1 3 10 4 11 5 12 6 13 20 27 7 14 21 28 8 15 22 29 2 9 16 23 30
7
14
8
15 22 29
9
16 23 30
10 11
18 25
19 20 21 26 27 28
17 18 19 24 25 26 31
April 7th: General Election
The general municipal election shall be held on the first Tuesday in April in each odd-numbered year (11 O.S. § 16-103).
April 8th - 10th: Contesting Results
This is the time period for contesting the correctness of the announced results of the election. Contests of the election must be filed by 5:00 p.m. on April 10th. Certificates to successful candidates can be issued after that time (26 O.S. §§ 8-109, 8-106, 8-108).
April 20th: Taking Office
The term of office of an elected official shall begin at 12:00 noon on the second Monday following the general municipal election, and such official shall serve until his successor is elected and qualified. The elected official can be sworn in before that time. The oath may be taken outside a meeting if a swearing-in ceremony cannot be arranged in a timely manner. Oaths can be administered by all officers authorized by state law, the mayor, municipal clerk, city manager, municipal judge and such other officers as the municipal governing body has authorized (11 O.S. §§ 8-102, 8-104).
May 8th - 18th: 3 rdCampaign Report Due*
The third campaign contribution and expenditure report is due and shall be filed on or before the 40th day after the date of the General Election. It shall include all contributions and expenditures made from the close of the second reporting period through the 30 th day after the general election. The report shall be filed with the city or town clerk (51 O.S. § 315). If any contributions are accepted or any expenditures made within 6 months after the close of the 3 rd reporting period, the candidate shall file a supplemental report within 6 months and 10 days after the date of the general election (October 19th). *No reporting is required of candidates or committees who do not exceed $500 in total contributions or expenditures (51 O.S. § 325).
Prepared by: Oklahoma Municipal League, 201 NE 23rd Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73105
The Oklahoma Municipal League, Inc., is a statewide association of more than 480 cities and towns. This non-partisan, nonprofit corporation is governed by a Board of Directors of elected and appointed municipal officials who meet monthly. By working together through OML, municipal officials formulate programs and unite in concerted action for the benefit of their communities. This united effort is a strong influence in achieving common goals. Founded just six years after statehood, OML has become recognized as the spokesperson for Oklahoma’s municipal governments. The League is headquartered in Oklahoma City, just one block west of the State Capital complex. Services to member cities and towns include: acting as a clearinghouse of information on federal and state polities affecting municipal governments; answering specific inquiries from city and town officials on a daily basis; conducting training and education programs for municipal officials; publishing a newsletter and special reports; meeting with state and federal officials on issues affecting cities and towns and their citizens; sponsoring retirement programs aimed at reducing cost to municipal governments and their employees; and credit union services to employees of member cities and towns.