Release Date: Wednesday, May 16, 2007
By Tony Choate, Media Relations Specialist
Chickasaw Nation Media Relations Office
ADA, Okla. --
- Chickasaw Nation Election Secretary Rita Loder announced today that the filing period for the 2007 General Elections is June 4 through June 6.
- Candidates must file in the election secretary’s office in the Miko Building, 520 East Arlington, Ada, Okla.
- Candidates may file from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily.
- Seats to be filled include governor and lt. governor.
- Legislative seats to be filled are Pontotoc District Seat 5, Pickens District Seat 3, Panola District Seat1 and Tishomingo District Seat 2.
- Seat 1 of the Chickasaw Nation Supreme Court is also up for election.
- Governor and lt. governor candidates shall run as a team.
- Candidates for governor and lt. governor must be registered Chickasaw voters at least 30 years of age and possess no less than one-fourth (¼ ) Chickasaw blood quantum. Candidates must also be residents of the Chickasaw Nation for at least one year immediately preceding the election.
- Governor and lt. governor must remain residents of the Chickasaw Nation during their tenure of office. Term of office is four years.
- Filing fees are $2,500 per team.
- Legislative candidates must be registered Chickasaw voters at least 25 years of age.
- Legislative candidates must also be residents of the Chickasaw Nation for at least one year and of their respective district for at least six months immediately preceding the election.
- Legislators must remain residents of their elected district during their tenure of office and. Term of office is three years.
- Filing fees are $500.
- A judicial candidate must be a registered voter of the Chickasaw Nation at least 30 years of age.
- Judicial candidates must also be a resident of the Chickasaw Nation for at least one year preceding the election.
- Judges must reside within the Chickasaw Nation during their tenure of office. Term of office is three years.
- Filing fees are $500.
- Candidates must bring verification of physical and mailing address, such as a utility bill
or homestead exemption and filing fee.
- Upon filing, they must complete a financial disclosure statement. Statements are also due at the end of every month during the candidate’s active campaign period.
- Candidates will receive an electoral packet containing election rules and regulations, the Chickasaw Constitution, financial disclosure forms, biography form for the Chickasaw Times, and watcher form.
- Candidates must not have been convicted of a felony. Background checks are conducted on all candidates.
- Primary election is July 31 and run-off election is August 28, if applicable.
- For further assistance, please contact Rita Loder, election secretary at (580) 310-6475 or 1-888-661-0137.
