June 5-7 filing period for Chickasaw elections

This article appeared in the May 2023 edition of the Chickasaw Times

ADA, Okla. - The Chickasaw Nation Election Commission has announced filing period for the 2023 General Elections opens June 5 and continues through June 7, 2023.

Candidates must contact the Chickasaw Nation Election Secretary’s office at (580) 310-6475 for more information and to schedule an appointment for filing. The Election Secretary’s office is in the Government Services building, 2015 Lonnie Abbott Industrial Blvd., Ada.

Candidates may file between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Seats up for election include Governor and Lieutenant Governor, four legislative seats, and one seat on the Supreme Court.

Legislative seats to be filled are Seats 3 and 4 of Pontotoc District; Seat 2 of Pickens District; and Seat 3 of Tishomingo District. Seat 3 of the Chickasaw Nation Supreme Court is also up for election this year.

Governor and Lieutenant Governor candidates must run as a team. Governor and Lieutenant Governor candidates must be citizens/registered voters of the Chickasaw Nation, and candidates must possess no less than one quarter (1/4) of Chickasaw First American blood. Candidates must be at least 30 years of age, residents of the Chickasaw Nation for at least one year immediately preceding any election for which they are candidates and must remain residents of the Chickasaw Nation during the tenure of their office. Governor and Lieutenant Governor candidates must not have been convicted of a felony. Term of office is four years. Filing fees are $2,500 per gubernatorial team.

Legislative candidates must be citizens/registered voters of The Chickasaw Nation, at least 25 years of age, and 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 the tenure of their office. Term of office is three years. Filing fees are $500.

A Supreme Court candidate must be a citizen/registered voter of the Chickasaw Nation and at least 30 years of age. Justices must be residents of the Chickasaw Nation during their three-year term of office. Filing fees are $500.

Candidates must bring verification of physical and mailing address, such as a utility bill or homestead exemption, which displays the candidate’s physical address, filing fee and upon filing must complete a financial disclosure statement. Statements are also due at 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.

The primary election is July 25 and the run-off election is Aug. 29, if applicable. For further assistance, please contact Chickasaw Nation Election Secretary Rita Loder toll free at 1-888-661-0137.