Broken Arrow City Council
Meeting of: November 3, 2026
Title:
title
Consideration, discussion and possible approval of and authorization to execute Resolution No. 1780, a Resolution of the Council of the City of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, providing notice of and calling for a non-partisan general election, if needed, to be held on April 6, 2027, to elect Council Members for Ward Three (3), Ward Four (4), and Member at Large; establishing the candidate filing period; establishing the deadline for contests of candidacy; providing for said officers to be nominated by ward and elected at large for a term of four years; setting forth residency requirements; providing for absentee ballots in accordance with State Law; and providing that the Tulsa County Election Board is responsible for holding the election and certifying the results
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Background:
The terms of office for the Council Members representing Ward 3, Ward 4, and the At-Large seat expire in 2027. Under Oklahoma law and Ordinances of the City of Broken Arrow, the City Council must adopt a resolution calling the election and submit it to the Secretary of the Tulsa County Election Board, which conducts the election on the City’s behalf.
Resolution No. 1780 calls a non-partisan general election for Tuesday, April 6, 2027. The first Tuesday in April is an election date authorized by 26 O.S. § 3-101. The resolution sets the following schedule and requirements:
1. Candidate filing period: 8:00 a.m. Monday, February 1, 2027, through 5:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 3, 2027.
2. Contests of candidacy: Must be filed no later than 5:00 p.m. Friday, February 5, 2027.
3. Offices: Council Member for Ward 3, Ward 4, and At-Large, each for a four-year term expiring in 2031. Candidates are nominated by ward and elected at large.
4. Qualifications: Each candidate must be a resident and registered voter of the City. Ward candidates must have actually lived in the ward they seek to represent for at least six months before filing a declaration of candidacy.
5. Unopposed candidates: If only one qualified candidate remains for an office after the filing and contest periods close, no election will be held for that office, and that candidate will be declared elected in accordance with State Law.
6. Absentee ballots: These will be provided in accordance with State Law.
7. Conduct of election: The Tulsa County Election Board will conduct the election and certify the results.
Under 26 O.S. § 13-102, the resolution must be submitted to the Secretary of the Tulsa County Election Board at least fifteen days before the filing period opens. That deadline falls on or before Sunday, January 17, 2027, so as a practical matter it is Friday, January 15, 2027. The resolution must also be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the City at least ten days before the filing period opens, which means by January 22, 2027. Adopting the resolution on November 3, 2026, gives the City Clerk ample time to meet both requirements.
Adopting the resolution itself costs the City nothing. The Tulsa County Election Board will bill the City for its share of election costs, which applies only if a contested race remains on the ballot. Those costs will be paid from budgeted election funds in the fiscal year when the election is held.
Cost: To be determined by the Election Board
Funding Source: General Fund
Requested By: Curtis Green, City Clerk
Approved By: City Manager’s Office
Attachments: Resolution No. 1780 and Notice of Election
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Recommendation:
recommend
Approve and authorize execution of Resolution 1780 and authorize its execution
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