{"data":{"id":"us-ok/okla.-stat.-tit.-26-26-5-107","jurisdiction":"us-ok","citation":"Okla. Stat. tit. 26, § 26-5-107","heading":"Identical names prohibited","body":"No person may become a candidate for any office enumerated in\n\nSection 5-102 of this title whose name is identical to the name of\n\nthe incumbent or of any publicly announced candidate for such\n\noffice, or similar thereto, where it appears that the identity or\n\nsimilarity of names is used for the purpose of confusing the voters.\n\nAny person desiring to become a candidate for one of said offices\n\nwhose name is identical or similar to the name of the incumbent or\n\nof any publicly announced candidate for said office shall observe\n\nthe following procedure.\n\nThe potential candidate shall file a preliminary Declaration of\n\nCandidacy with the Secretary of the State Election Board between the\n\nhours of 8 a.m. on Monday and 5 p.m. on Friday of the third week\n\nprior to the beginning of the regular filing period. The\n\npreliminary Declaration of Candidacy shall be accompanied by a\n\ncashier's or certified check in the amount of Two Hundred Fifty\n\nDollars ($250.00).\n\nWhen such a preliminary Declaration of Candidacy is filed the\n\nSecretary of the State Election Board shall immediately set the\n\nmatter for hearing and shall cause at least five (5) days' notice to\n\nbe given by publication in one issue of a newspaper of general\n\ncirculation in the state so that any person may object to said\n\nfiling and be heard thereon at said hearing.\n\nAt said hearing the candidate may present proof and testimony of\n\nhis good faith. The burden of proof shall be upon the candidate to\n\nshow that his candidacy is in good faith and is not intended to\n\nconfuse the voters.\n\nAfter a full and complete hearing the State Election Board shall\n\nrender its decision, and if it finds that he is acting in good faith\n\nand not for the purpose of confusing the voters, said candidate\n\nshall be permitted to file a Declaration of Candidacy during the\n\nregular filing period, and his deposit shall be returned to him. If\n\nthe Board finds that said candidate's candidacy is designed for the\n\npurpose of confusing the voters, he shall not be permitted to file\n\nas a candidate, and the balance of his deposit, after the costs of\n\nthe hearing are deducted, shall be returned to him.","path":["OK Code","Title 26"],"source_url":"https://www.oklegislature.gov/OK_Statutes/CompleteTitles/os26.pdf","current_through":"2026-08-14","vintage":"open-us-law v2026.08, retrieved 2026-09-14","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T18:32:36Z","sha256":"e8f1c8d954ade1263ba1a60794552f8fa08c4abf0809836b5dbfc5df410026e4","source_id":"us-ok","stale":false,"prev":"us-ok/okla.-stat.-tit.-26-26-5-106","next":"us-ok/okla.-stat.-tit.-26-26-5-108"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}