Okla. Stat. tit. 26, § 26-5-107: Identical names prohibited

No person may become a candidate for any office enumerated in

Section 5-102 of this title whose name is identical to the name of

the incumbent or of any publicly announced candidate for such

office, or similar thereto, where it appears that the identity or

similarity of names is used for the purpose of confusing the voters.

Any person desiring to become a candidate for one of said offices

whose name is identical or similar to the name of the incumbent or

of any publicly announced candidate for said office shall observe

the following procedure.

The potential candidate shall file a preliminary Declaration of

Candidacy with the Secretary of the State Election Board between the

hours of 8 a.m. on Monday and 5 p.m. on Friday of the third week

prior to the beginning of the regular filing period. The

preliminary Declaration of Candidacy shall be accompanied by a

cashier's or certified check in the amount of Two Hundred Fifty

Dollars ($250.00).

When such a preliminary Declaration of Candidacy is filed the

Secretary of the State Election Board shall immediately set the

matter for hearing and shall cause at least five (5) days' notice to

be given by publication in one issue of a newspaper of general

circulation in the state so that any person may object to said

filing and be heard thereon at said hearing.

At said hearing the candidate may present proof and testimony of

his good faith. The burden of proof shall be upon the candidate to

show that his candidacy is in good faith and is not intended to

confuse the voters.

After a full and complete hearing the State Election Board shall

render its decision, and if it finds that he is acting in good faith

and not for the purpose of confusing the voters, said candidate

shall be permitted to file a Declaration of Candidacy during the

regular filing period, and his deposit shall be returned to him. If

the Board finds that said candidate's candidacy is designed for the

purpose of confusing the voters, he shall not be permitted to file

as a candidate, and the balance of his deposit, after the costs of

the hearing are deducted, shall be returned to him.