Press Release Kit and Templates - Oklahoma Release Kit 2014.pdf · To access the press release...

Press Release Kit – 2014

Press Release Kit and Templates

There are 19 generic election press releases that provide basic information about a variety of

election events. There will never be a time, however, when you will use all 19 press releases for

a single election. Several of the releases are designed for use in connection with specific types

of elections. Some of the election press releases concern candidate filing periods and one

concerns the deadline for changing political affiliation in even-numbered years.

Only ten of the election press releases are intended for routine use. But the only election for

which use of all ten of these routine press releases is recommended is the statewide Primary

Election in June of even-numbered years.

Beginning on page 4 are lists of press releases recommended for use with various types of

elections. These lists of press releases, list the numbers of the generic election press releases to

be prepared for the type of election indicated. These press release lists have been created for

you for all regular and special statewide elections, county elections, school district, and

municipal elections.


Unlocking Templates to Adjust the Text of a Press Release

Remember that some – perhaps all – of the generic election press releases require minor

adjustments to make them “fit” specific elections in your county.

Following are instructions to unlock the templates so that the contents can be changed or

updated.

Templates of all the model press releases in the Press Release Kit are posted for your use on the

State Election Board’s Voter Registration Inquiry System (VRIS) website. In order to access

the templates on the website, you must be a registered VRIS user. Contact the State Election

Board office if you need to register to use VRIS.

The templates are Microsoft Word™ documents that you can download to your computer and

fill out with information about any election in your county. While you should save a filled-out

template to your hard drive, it is not necessary to save the blank templates to your hard drive.

Instead, each time you need to prepare press releases, log into VRIS and follow these

instructions to access and fill out the templates for the appropriate press releases. This will

ensure that you always use the most current version available of the press release template.

To access the press release templates on VRIS, go to the VRIS website and log in to your

account.

1. Select “Tools” from the menu.

2. Select “Downloads.”

3. Scroll down the page to find “Press Release Kit and Templates.”

4. Select the press release you want by clicking on the blue underscored title.

5. Select the “Open” option.

6. Begin typing your information.

7. Save the document with a new name. For example, "2-5-08 Election Press Release #1.

8. Print your finished press release.

Unlocking Templates

If for any reason you need to adjust the text of a press release, you first must unlock the

template. Follow the appropriate instructions to do so.

Microsoft Office Word 2003™

1. If you are still using Microsoft Office Word 2003™, you first must display the Forms

toolbar.

A. Click "View."

B. Click "Toolbars."

C. Select "Forms" from the list.

2. To unlock the template:


A. Click the padlock icon on the Forms toolbar to unlock the template.

B. Make any necessary changes to the text of the template.

3. To relock the template, click the padlock icon again.

Microsoft Office Word 2007™

If you are using Microsoft Word 2007™, the Ribbon must be displayed. If the Ribbon is not

present at the top of the document window, hold down the Control (Ctrl) key on your computer

keyboard and simultaneously press the F1 key. The Ribbon should appear.

1. Look for the "Developer" tab on the Ribbon. It should be the last item listed on the

Ribbon. If you do not see "Developer" on the Ribbon, follow these steps to display it.

A. Click the round Windows icon at the upper left corner of the document window.

B. Click the Word Options button at the bottom of the new menu window.

C. Click the "Show the Developer tab in the Ribbon."

D. Click "OK."

2. To unlock the template:

A. Click the Developer tab on the Ribbon.

B. Click "Protect Document" on the the Developer Ribbon.

C. Click "Restrict Formatting and Editing."

D. Click the "Stop Protection" button located at the bottom of the pane that appears at

the right side of the document window.

E. Make any necessary changes to the template text.

3. To relock the template:

A. Place a checkmark in the box under "2. Editing Restrictions."

B. Choose "Filling in forms" from the drop down box on the following field.

C. Click "Yes, start enforcing protection."

D. Click "OK" in the dialog box that appears in the center of the document window.

DO NOT enter a password for the document.

E. Enter the necessary information in the form and save as a new document.

Microsoft Office Word™ 2010 and 2013

The steps for unlocking a template in Word 2010 and Word 2013 are very similar to those in

Word 2007. You must first display the Developer tab, then click Restrict Editing on that tab,

and click the Stop Protection button.


State and/or County Elections

As a rule, voters have more interest in statewide elections than in other types of elections. For

this reason, press release packets for regular statewide elections are more extensive than those

for school district, municipal, or special elections.

The statewide election season opens with the filing period for state and county offices in June

of even-numbered years.

The press release for the state and county filing period is Election #12. It should be prepared in

late March and released on the Thursday before the first day of the filing period. (Remember –

the first day of the filing period for federal, state, and county offices is now on Wednesday.)

Election #16, which concerns the last time to change political affiliation during the primary

season in even-numbered years, should be prepared and released at least one week prior to the

(current) March 31 deadline.

The press release packet for the Primary Election in June of even-numbered years uses more of

the generic election press releases than any other single election packet. The Primary is the first

voting opportunity of the statewide election season. More offices usually appear on the ballot at

the Primary than at any other election, even including the General Election in November.

The press release packet for the Runoff Primary Election contains fewer releases because this

election takes place soon after the Primary. We assume that voters remember what they read

only a few weeks before and also that persons who vote in the Runoff probably also voted at

the Primary. The press release packet for the General Election is more extensive than the one

for the Runoff but still contains fewer releases than the one for the Primary Election.

The press release packet for the Presidential Preferential Primary Election is identical to the

packet for the regular Primary Election.

Deadline for changing political affiliation

Election # 16

Candidate filing period for federal, state, and county offices

Election #12


Primary Election

Election #1

Election #2

Election #3

Election #4

Election #5

Election #6

Election #7

Election #8

Election #9

Election #18

Runoff Primary Election

Election #1

Election #2

Election #4

Election #5

Election #9

Election #18

General Election

Election #1

Election #2

Election #3

Election #4

Election #5

Election #6

Election #7

Election #8

Election #9

Election #18

Presidential Preferential Primary Election

Election #1

Election #2

Election #3

Election #4

Election #5

Election #6

Election #7

Election #8

Election #9

Election #18


Special State or

Special County Election

Election #19 (use only for a special election called by the Governor to fill a vacancy)

Election #1

Election #2

Election #4

Election #5

Election #6

Election #7

Election #9 or #10

Election #17 or #18


School District Elections

The press release packets for Annual School Elections, for Annual School Runoff Elections,

and for special school elections are identical. These packets provide basic election information

— absentee voting, last day to apply for voter registration, and voting tips.

Two of the generic election press releases pertain only to school elections — Election #13

announces a school election filing period and Election #11 announces the necessity of an

Annual School Runoff Election.

Some adjustments to the standard text of the press releases may be necessary to accommodate:

• Technology center school districts

• multi-county districts for which yours is the parent county

• multi-county districts for which yours is an affected county

• closed precincts

• board districts

Filing period for Annual School Election or for Special Election

Election #13

Announcement of Annual School Runoff Election

Election #11

Election #1

Election #2

Election #6

Election #7

Election #10

Election #17


Municipal Elections

Press release packets for regular and special municipal elections utilize the same releases used

for school elections with the one exception of the filing period press release. Election #14

discusses a nonpartisan municipal candidate filing period and Election #15 discusses a partisan

municipal candidate filing period. (Remember – very few municipalities conduct partisan

elections. Election #14 should be used for most municipal filing periods.)

However, it may be necessary to alter the generic press releases to adequately describe the

circumstances of some municipal elections.

Filing Period – Nonpartisan

Election #14

Filing Period – Partisan only

Election #15

Regular Municipal General Election,

Special Election,

and/or Partisan Municipal Primary or General Election

Election #1

Election #2

Election #6

Election #7

Election #10

Election #17


Recommended Release Dates

The release dates that follow assume a Thursday publication date. Thursday has been chosen

because most weekly newspapers publish on Thursday each week.

However, you always should consult local media to determine the actual release dates for your

press releases and adjust the dates and your schedule for preparing press releases accordingly.

Live media, such as radio and television, may have different requirements print media for

timely submission of press releases to meet certain deadlines.

Press Release Release Date

Subject

Election #1 Fourth Thursday before election

(25 days before election)

Last day to submit voter

registration application for election

Election #2 Third Thursday before election


First absentee voting notice;

absentee categories

Election #3 Second Thursday before election


Second absentee voting notice

Election #4 Thursday before election


Voter assistance



Sample ballots



Voting tips



Violations of election law



Emergency absentee information



In-person absentee (early) voting –

includes Saturday voting



In-person absentee (early)

Election #11 Second Thursday after Annual

School Election

Announcement of Annual School

Runoff Election


Press Release Release Date

Subject

Election #12 Thursday before first day of Federal,

State, and County Office candidate

filing period

Candidate filing period for Federal,

State, and County Offices

Election #13 Thursday before first day of school

election filing period

Candidate filing period for Annual

School Elections

Election #14 Thursday before first day of

municipal candidate filing period

Candidate filing period for Regular

Municipal Elections – nonpartisan

Election #15 Thursday before first day of

municipal candidate filing period

Candidate filing period for Regular

Municipal Elections – partisan

Election #16 Thursday before March 31 deadline Deadline for political affiliation

change in even-numbered year

Election #17 Thursday before start of early voting New law, new early voting days

Election #18 Thursday before start of early voting New law, new early voting days –

includes Saturday voting and hours

Election #19 Thursday before first day of special

candidate filing

Candidate filing period for special

election called by Governor to fill

vacancy


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: THURSDAY, MONTH DAY, YEAR

CONTACT: NAME, ( ) OFFICE PHONE, ( ) MOBILE PHONE

Voter Registration Deadline is Month Day

Friday, MONTH DAY, is the last day to apply for voter registration in order to be

eligible to vote in the MONTH DAY NAME OF ENTITY TYPE OF ELECTION, NAME OF

COUNTY County Election Board Secretary FULL NAME said today.

LAST NAME said that persons who are United States citizens, residents of Oklahoma,

and at least 18 years old may apply to become registered voters.

Persons who have never been registered to vote before or who are not currently

registered in the county of their residence and persons who are registered but who need to

change their registration information may apply by filling out and mailing an Oklahoma Voter

Registration Application form in time for it to be postmarked no later than midnight Friday,

MONTH DAY.

LAST NAME explained that applications postmarked after that time still will be

accepted and processed; however, the applications will not be approved until after ELECTION

DATE.

The County Election Board responds in writing to every person who submits an

application for voter registration. The response is either a voter identification card listing the

new voter's precinct number and polling place location or a letter that explains the reason or

reasons the application for voter registration was not approved. LAST NAME said that any

person who has submitted a voter registration application and who has not received a response

within 30 days should contact the County Election Board office.

Oklahoma Voter Registration Application forms are available at the County Election

Board office located at ADDRESS, and at most post offices, tag agencies, and public libraries

in the county. LAST NAME said that applications also are available at www.elections.ok.gov.

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SEB012014/1




Voters Should Apply Early for Absentee Ballots

Voters in NAME OF COUNTY County who want to have absentee ballots mailed to

them for the MONTH DAY NAME OF ENTITY TYPE OF ELECTION should apply now,

County Election Board Secretary FULL NAME said today. Although the County Election

Board can accept applications for absentee ballots until 5 p.m. on Wednesday, MONTH DAY,

LAST NAME urged voters who want to vote by absentee ballot to apply early.

Absentee ballot application forms are available at the County Election Board office

located at ADDRESS. The absentee ballot application forms also can be downloaded and

printed at: www.elections.ok.gov.

“At least two mail transactions must be made,” LAST NAME said. “The County

Election Board must mail the ballots to the voter and the voter must return the voted ballots by

mail.” Ballots must be in the hands of the County Election Board by 7 p.m. on election day in

order to be counted.

LAST NAME said that any registered voter may vote by absentee ballot in any election

in which he/she is eligible to vote. However, a voter must be registered and reside at an address

within the geographical boundaries of a school district or a municipality to be eligible to vote in

school district or municipal elections. It is not necessary to give a reason—or excuse—for

voting absentee.

“While anyone can vote absentee without giving a reason, the law still provides several

excuses, and it is to the advantage of some voters to use one of them,” LAST NAME said. By

stating one of the following reasons on their applications, these voters can activate some special

conditions that make it easier for them to use absentee ballots. The reasons are:

• Voters who are physically incapacitated and voters who care for physically

incapacitated persons who cannot be left unattended may vote absentee. They

may apply only by mail, by fax, or by email.

• Voters who are confined to nursing homes in the county may vote absentee. An

Absentee Voting Board actually goes to the nursing home a few days before the


election, sets up a small polling place and allows these persons to vote under

circumstances similar to those at a regular precinct polling place. They may

apply only by mail, by fax, or by email.

• Military personnel and residents of the county living overseas and the spouses

and dependents of each group are eligible receive absentee ballots. These voters

may apply only by mail, fax, or by email. Military personnel should contact the

Voting Service Officers in their units for application forms and additional

information or visit the Federal Voting Assistance Program website

(www.fvap.gov/oklahoma) for more information and instructions. Residents of

Oklahoma living overseas can obtain the same materials from any United States

military installation and from United States Embassies and Consulates as well as

on the FVAP website.

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SEB012914/2

http://www.fvap.gov/oklahoma




Deadline to Request Absentee Ballots Nears

Less than a week remains for registered voters in NAME OF COUNTY County to apply

for absentee ballots to be mailed to them for the MONTH DAY NAME OF ENTITY TYPE OF

ELECTION, County Election Board Secretary FULL NAME said today.

Applications for absentee ballots must be in the hands of the County Election Board no

later than 5 p.m. on Wednesday, MONTH DAY, to be processed.

Any registered voter eligible to vote in the election may vote by absentee ballot without

stating a reason, LAST NAME said. Absentee voters may apply in person at the County

Election Board office or may send their applications by mail, fax, or e-mail. Voters also may

apply for absentee ballots for the following reasons:

• Registered voters who are physically incapacitated and voters who care for

physically incapacitated persons who cannot be left unattended may apply for

absentee ballots only by mail, fax, e-mail, or via an agent who is at least 16 years of

age and who is not employed by or related within the third degree of consanguinity

or affinity to any person whose name appears on the ballot.

• Registered voters who are confined to nursing homes in the county may apply by

mail, by fax, by e-mail, or via an agent who is at least 16 years of age and who is not

employed by or related within the third degree of consanguinity or affinity to any

person whose name appears on the ballot.

• Military personnel, residents of NAME OF COUNTY County living overseas, and

the spouses and dependents of each group may apply only by mail, by fax, or by e-

mail. For more information and instructions, military and overseas voters may visit

the Federal Voting Assistance Program website: www.fvap.gov/oklahoma.

For more information on absentee voting, contact the County Election Board at

ADDRESS. The telephone number is TELEPHONE NUMBER. The County Election Board’s

fax number is FAX NUMBER.

For additional election-related information, visit: www.elections.ok.gov.

http://www.fvap.gov/oklahoma


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Tips Offered for Disabled Voters, Next-of-Kin of the

Deceased, and Voters with Address Changes

Special assistance will be offered to four groups of voters at the MONTH DAY NAME

OF ENTITY TYPE OF ELECTION, NAME OF COUNTY County Election Board Secretary

FULL NAME said today.

Physically disabled voters who cannot enter the polling place, physically disabled voters

who need help marking their ballots inside the polling place, blind or visually disabled voters,

and illiterate voters may be assisted by a person the voter chooses. In all cases, a person

providing such assistance may not be the voter’s employer or an agent of the employer or an

officer or agent of the voter’s union. A person providing assistance also must swear or affirm

that the voter’s ballots will be marked in accordance with the voter’s wishes.

Alternatively, all blind, visually impaired, and physically disabled voters in NAME OF

COUNTY County may use the audio-tactile interface (ATI), a feature offered on all Oklahoma

voting devices, to vote privately and independently, either at NAME OF COUNTY County

Election Board during early voting or at their assigned polling place on election day.

LAST NAME also said that two other services are offered to voters at their polling

places.

The next-of-kin of voters who have died, but whose registrations are still listed on

official voting records, can cancel those registrations by filling out a form at the polling place

and submitting it to precinct officials.

Also, voters who have moved since the last election, but who have not transferred their

voter registration to their new address, may do so on election day by going to vote at the polling

place where their registration has been in the past. While voting, they may fill out a form

instructing the County Election Board to transfer their registration to the new address before the

next election.

For additional election-related information, visit: www.elections.ok.gov.

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SEB012014/4



CONTACT: NAME, OFFICE PHONE ( ) , MOBILE PHONE ( )

Voters Can See Sample Ballots at Name of County

County Election Board

Sample ballots now are available at the NAME OF COUNTY County Election Board

office for voters who want to get a preview of what will be at stake in the NAME OF ENTITY

TYPE OF ELECTION on MONTH DAY.

FULL NAME, Secretary of the NAME OF COUNTY County Election Board, said that

sample ballots can be viewed at the Election Board office, located at ADDRESS in CITY,

during regular office hours, HOURS.

Sample ballots also will be posted outside every precinct polling place on Tuesday so

that voters can review them before casting their votes.

Ballots that will be issued to voters on Tuesday include the following:

Ballot types

For more election-related information, call the NAME OF COUNTY County Election

Board at OFFICE PHONE ( ) or visit www.elections.ok.gov.

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SEB012014/5

http://www.elections.ok.gov/


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MONTH DAY, YEAR


Voting Tips Offered by Election Board Secretary

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, MONTH DAY, for the NAME OF

ENTITY TYPE OF ELECTION. NAME OF COUNTY County Election Board Secretary

FULL NAME offered voters tips on how to make their votes count.

LAST NAME said that a valid ballot marking—a filled-in box (in either blue or black

ballpoint ink)—is important. If voters make mistakes marking their ballots, LAST NAME said

they should not try to correct those errors. Instead, a voter should return the spoiled ballot to

precinct officials, who will destroy it and issue a new ballot to the voter.

LAST NAME also urged voters to take their voter identification cards with them to the

polls. “Your voter ID card (issued by the County Election Board) can help precinct officials

find your name in the Precinct Registry, and it may help them resolve the problem if you are

not listed in the Registry for some reason,” LAST NAME explained. Alternatively, voters can

bring an unexpired photo ID card issued by the U.S. government, the state of Oklahoma, or a

federally recognized tribal government.

Voters without ID, or whose names are not found in the Precinct Registry, or voters

who disagree with the information shown in the Registry, may always cast a provisional ballot.

A provisional ballot is sealed in a special envelope and counted after election day if the voter’s

information can be verified by the County Election Board.

LAST NAME said that voters who want to get through the line quickly should vote at

mid-morning or mid-afternoon, because those usually are the two slowest periods.

"Anyone who is eligible and in line at the polling place at 7 p.m. on Tuesday will be

entitled to vote," the NAME OF COUNTY County Election Board Secretary added.

Following is a list of the precinct polling places in the NAME OF ENTITY TYPE OF

ELECTION Election on MONTH DAY OF ELECTION:

Precinct NUMERAL NAME AND ADDRESS OF POLLING PLACE

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SEB012014/6




Electioneering, Other Violations Discouraged by

Name of County County Election Board Secretary

NAME OF COUNTY County Election Board Secretary FULL NAME today advised

voters, candidates, campaign officials, and volunteers to be very aware of—and careful to not

violate—state election laws in the MONTH DAY TYPE OF ELECTION next Tuesday.

LAST NAME said that all known election law violations will be reported to the proper

law enforcement authorities, usually the County Sheriff and District Attorney. “Our precinct

officials are going to be watching very closely on election day for illegal electioneering by

candidates, zealous campaign staff, and their volunteers. It’s unlawful in NAME OF COUNTY

County and across the State of Oklahoma to electioneer within 300 feet of a ballot box, he

explained.

To electioneer means to work for or against election of a particular candidate, political

party, or issue. “This includes the illegal placement of any campaign signs inside the 300 feet

boundary limit away from the ballot box,” reminded LAST NAME.

LAST NAME said election law violations sometimes committed accidentally by voters

include disclosing how one voted while within the election enclosure or removing a ballot from

the polling place.

Other violations by voters include taking a ballot into or out of the polling place or

taking intoxicating liquors within half a mile of a polling location. It is unlawful for any person

to disclose how he or she voted to any other person while inside the election enclosure. LAST

NAME said it also is against the law for anyone other than voters waiting in line to vote and for

precinct or other election officials to be within 50 feet of a ballot box during the election.

Citizens can find these and other state election laws in Title 26 of the Oklahoma

Statutes. For more about this topic and other Oklahoma election-related information, please

visit www.elections.ok.gov.

http://www.elections.ok.gov/


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SEB012014/7



CONTACT: OFFICE PHONE ( ) , MOBILE PHONE ( )

Physical Incapacitation No Hindrance to Voting

NAME OF COUNTY County Election Board

Secretary Says

Registered voters in NAME OF COUNTY County who become physically

incapacitated after 5 p.m. Tuesday, MONTH DAY, won’t have to miss the MONTH DAY

NAME OF ENTITY TYPE OF ELECTION, County Election Board Secretary FULL NAME

said today.

LAST NAME explained that state law permits registered voters who will be unable to

go to the polls because they became incapacitated after 5 p.m. Tuesday, MONTH DAY, to vote

on an emergency basis. “Physical incapacitation” includes a variety of conditions—injury,

illness, childbirth—that prevent a person from voting in person at the polls on election day.

Aside from unplanned emergencies, “state law also allows a registered voter who is

physically incapacitated on an ongoing basis or a person who is charged with the care of a

physically incapacitated person who cannot be left unattended to submit an application for

absentee ballot by an agent,” the county election secretary said.

The agent may be any person of the voter’s choosing who is at least 16 years of age and

who is not employed by or related within the third degree of consanguinity or affinity to any

person whose name appears on the ballot, Also, a person may serve as an agent for only one

person at any election, LAST NAME explained.

“If you think that you or someone you know fits into this category, please contact the

NAME OF COUNTY County Election Board office at TELEPHONE NUMBER as soon as

possible for more information,” LAST NAME said.

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SEB012014/8


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MONDAY, MONTH DAY, YEAR


Deadline to Request Absentee Ballots Approaches

Early voting is another option for voters who miss Wednesday’s deadline

Registered voters in NAME OF COUNTY County who want to vote by mail absentee

ballot in next Tuesday’s NAME OF ENTITY Primary Election have until this Wednesday at

5:00 p.m. to request one, County Election Board Secretary FULL NAME said today.

“If absentee voters miss Wednesday’s deadline, they aren’t out of luck, however,”

LAST NAME said.

Voters who want to cast absentee ballots still can do so in person at the County Election

Board office on Thursday, MONTH DAY, Friday, MONTH DAY or Saturday. A two-

member, bipartisan Absentee Voting Board will be on duty each day from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on

Thursday and Friday to assist absentee voters and on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., MONTH

DAY.

“In-person absentee voters fill out an application form when they get to the office. They

are not required to give any reason for voting absentee,” LAST NAME said. “They are required

to swear that they have not voted a regular mail absentee ballot and that they will not vote at

their polling place on election day.”

According to LAST NAME, the Absentee Voting Board verifies a voter’s registration

information. Then, the Board issues all the appropriate ballots to the voter. The voter marks the

ballots in a voting booth and then casts them in the voting device. “It is very much like voting

at a precinct polling place,” said LAST NAME.

For more information, contact the NAME OF COUNTY County Election Board,

located at ADDRESS. Their phone number is ( ) .

–30– SEB012014/9


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MONDAY, MONTH DAY, YEAR


Deadline to Request Absentee Ballots Approaches

Early voting is another option for voters who miss Wednesday’s deadline

Registered voters in NAME OF COUNTY County who want to vote by mail absentee

ballot in next Tuesday’s NAME OF ENTITY TYPE OF ELECTION have until this Wednesday

at 5:00 p.m. to request one, County Election Board Secretary FULL NAME said today.

“If absentee voters miss Wednesday’s deadline, they aren’t out of luck, however,”

LAST NAME said.

Voters who want to cast absentee ballots still can do so in person at the County Election

Board office on Thursday, MONTH DAY, or Friday, MONTH DAY. A two-member,

bipartisan Absentee Voting Board will be on duty each day from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday

and Friday to assist absentee voters.

“In-person absentee voters fill out an application form when they get to the office. They

are not required to give any reason for voting absentee,” LAST NAME said. “They are required

to swear that they have not voted a regular mail absentee ballot and that they will not vote at

their polling place on election day.”

According to LAST NAME, the Absentee Voting Board verifies a voter’s registration

information. Then, the Board issues all the appropriate ballots to the voter. The voter marks the

ballots in a voting booth and then casts them in the voting device. “It is very much like voting

at a precinct polling place,” said LAST NAME.

For more information, contact the NAME OF COUNTY County Election Board,

located at ADDRESS. Their phone number is ( ) .

–30– SEB012014/10




Candidates Vie for Seat in School Runoff Election Set

for April Day

An Annual School Runoff Election will be held for Board of Education Office No.

NUMERAL in NAME OF DISTRICT School District on Tuesday, April DAY, YEAR. State

law requires the runoff election if no candidate in the regular Annual School Election receives

more than 50% of the total votes cast.

FULL NAME, Secretary of the NAME OF COUNTY County Election Board, said that

Board of Education candidates FIRST CANDIDATE'S FULL NAME and SECOND

CANDIDATE'S FULL NAME received the highest number of votes in the February DAY

election and therefore will meet in the runoff election on April DAY.

FIRST CANDIDATE'S LAST NAME received NUMERAL votes in the Annual School

Election, while SECOND CANDIDATE'S LAST NAME received NUMERAL votes. A total

of NUMERAL votes were cast in the election.

Voters who are registered and reside at an address within the geographical boundaries of

the NAME OF DISTRICT School District are eligible to vote in the runoff election on April

DAY.

For more information, contact the NAME OF COUNTY County Election Board at

OFFICE PHONE ( ) .

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SEB012014/11




Candidate Filing to Begin Month Day

Statewide election activity begins officially at 8 a.m. Wednesday, April DAY, when the

official candidate filing period opens, FULL NAME, Secretary of the NAME OF COUNTY

County Election Board, said today.

Candidates for state offices file with the Secretary of the State Election Board in

Oklahoma City. Candidates for county offices file with the Secretary of the County Election

Board.

LAST NAME said that the following county offices will be filled this year: LIST

COUNTY OFFICES (SEE KIT FOR EXAMPLE). LIST ANY OFFICE TO BE FILLED BY

SPECIAL ELECTION.

For more election-related information, call the County Election Board at ( ) OFFICE

PHONE, or visit www.elections.ok.gov.

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SEB012014/12




School Board Candidate Filings Set to Begin Monday,

MONTH DAY

Candidates for the Board of Education in NUMBER NAME OF COUNTY County

school districts will file their Declarations of Candidacy over three days beginning at 8 a.m. on

Monday, MONTH DAY, and continuing Tuesday and Wednesday, NAME OF COUNTY

County Election Board Secretary FULL NAME said today.

LAST NAME said the official filing period ends at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, MONTH

DAY. All candidate filings will occur at the NAME OF COUNTY County Election Board

office, STREET ADDRESS, in CITY, LAST NAME explained.

The Board of Education positions at stake will be filled at the Annual School Election

scheduled MONTH DAY, YEAR. If no candidate receives more than 50% of the total votes

cast in this election, the two candidates receiving the highest number of votes will meet in an

runoff election on Tuesday, MONTH DAY, YEAR.

Offices for which Declarations of Candidacy will be accepted at the County Election

Board office include the following:

NAME OF DISTRICT School District---Office No. NUMERAL

NAME OF DISTRICT School District---Office No. NUMERAL

For more information, contact the NAME OF COUNTY County Election Board at

OFFICE PHONE ( ) .

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SEB012014/13




Municipal Candidate Filings Set to Begin Monday,

Month Day

Candidates for municipal office in NUMBER NAME OF COUNTY County

municipalities file Declarations of Candidacy beginning at 8 a.m. Monday, MONTH DAY.

FULL NAME, Secretary of the County Election Board, said the filing period ends at 5

p.m. Wednesday, MONTH DAY.

Declarations of Candidacy will be accepted at the County Election Board office for the

indicated offices for each of the following municipalities.

NAME OF MUNICIPALITY---NAME OF OFFICES RETURN AND CONTINUE

LIST

The municipal offices at stake in NAMES OF MUNICIPALITIES will be filled in the

nonpartisan General Election scheduled MONTH, DAY,YEAR.

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SEB012014/14




Municipal Candidate Filings Set to Begin Monday,

Month Day

Candidates for party nomination for municipal office in NUMBER NAME OF

COUNTY County municipalities file Declarations of Candidacy beginning at 8 a.m. Monday,

MONTH DAY.

FULL NAME, Secretary of the County Election Board, said the filing period ends at 5

p.m. Wednesday, MONTH DAY.

Declarations of Candidacy will be accepted at the County Election Board office for the

indicated offices for each of the following municipalities.

NAME OF MUNICIPALITY---NAME OF OFFICES RETURN AND CONTINUE

LIST

Party nominees for offices at stake in NAMES OF MUNICIPALITIES will be selected

in the Primary Election scheduled MONTH,DAY,YEAR. The General Election, if necessary

after the Primary, will be held MONTH, DAY,YEAR.

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SEB012014/15




Deadline to Change Party Affiliation is

Month Day

Oklahomans who want to elect the nominee of a political party in the Primary or Runoff

Primary Elections later this year should make sure they are registered in that party no later than

DAY, March 31, according to FULL NAME, Secretary of the NAME OF COUNTY County

Election Board.

Changes of political affiliation are prohibited by law during the period beginning April

1 and continuing through August 31 in even-numbered years, LAST NAME said.

Each political party can nominate one candidate per office for the November General

Election. If two or more candidates from the same party file for one office, the party nominee

is selected at either the Primary or Runoff Primary Election.

Only voters registered in a political party can vote to select that party's nominees.

Voters not registered in a party (Independents) cannot vote for party candidates in primary

elections. Oklahoma has NUMBER recognized political parties in CURRENT YEAR: LIST

ALL RECOGNIZED POLITICAL PARTIES.

All registered voters, regardless of political affiliation, can vote for any candidate at the

November General Election and for state or local questions at any election.

Applications to register to vote or to change political affiliation are available at the

NAME OF COUNTY County Election Board office, ADDRESS; post offices; public libraries;

state offices providing public assistance; and at most political party and candidate campaign

offices.

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SEB012014/16


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: DAY OF WEEK, MONTH DAY, YEAR


Early Voting Begins on Thursday, MONTH DAY

New Oklahoma law changes ‘early’ voting to the prior Thursday and

Friday; affects MONTH DAY election.

A new state law which took effect on November 1, 2013, changes the dates and times

voters have come to expect for early voting in Oklahoma. Now, early voting begins on

Thursday and continues on Friday, NAME OF COUNTY County Election Board Secretary

FULL NAME said today. Of special note, early voting is no longer conducted on Monday.

These changes have occurred due to the approval of SB 869, which was signed into law

in May, 2013. As a result, Thursday, MONTH DAY is the first day for in-person absentee aka

“early” voting, in the MONTH DAY Election, LAST NAME explained.

More information about absentee voting in Oklahoma, as well as other election-related

information, is available at www.elections.ok.gov.

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SEB012014/17


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: DAY OF WEEK, MONTH DAY, YEAR


Early Voting Begins on Thursday, MONTH DAY

New Oklahoma law changes ‘early’ voting to the prior Thursday,

Friday, and Saturday; affects MONTH DAY Primary Election.

A new state law which took effect on November 1, 2013, changes the dates and times

voters have come to expect for early voting in Oklahoma. Now, early voting begins on

Thursday and continues on Friday and Saturday, NAME OF COUNTY County Election Board

Secretary FULL NAME explained today. Of special note, early voting is no longer conducted

on Monday.

These changes have occurred due to the approval of SB 869, which was signed into law

in May, 2013. As a result, Thursday, MONTH DAY is the first day for in-person absentee,

aka “early” voting, in the MONTH DAY Primary Election, LAST NAME said.

The new law also adjusts the hours for Saturday in-person absentee voting. Saturday

voting now takes place from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. LAST NAME explained that during federal

and state elections such as this one, voter turnout is often heavier and providing early voting on

Saturday gives voters an additional opportunity to vote before election day.

More information about absentee voting in Oklahoma, as well as other election-related

information, is available at www.elections.ok.gov.

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SEB012014/18




Governor Calls Special Election to fill COUNTY

NAME County Commission Vacancy

Governor GOVERNOR'S FULL NAME has called a special election to fill the vacancy

in the office of NAME OF COUNTY County Commissioner District NUMBER, County

Election Board Secretary SECRETARY'S FULL NAME said today.

The Special Primary Election will be held on MONTH DAY, YEAR. The Special

General Election will be held MONTH DAY, YEAR.

A special filing period will be held beginning at 8 a.m. on Monday, MONTH DAY,

YEAR. Persons wishing to become candidates may contact the NAME OF COUNTY County

Election Board for information and copies of the filing packet. The County Election Board is

located at ADDRESS. The telephone number is TELEPHONE NUMBER.

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SEB012014/19

Press Release Kit and Templates - Oklahoma Release Kit 2014.pdf · To access the press release...

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Transcript of Press Release Kit and Templates - Oklahoma Release Kit 2014.pdf · To access the press release...