Voters in Bowlegs will take to the polls Sept. 9 to decide on granting Oklahoma Gas and Electric (OG&E) another 25-year franchise.

A franchise is an agreement between a municipality—through a vote of the people—and a utility. The agreement gives a utility the right to use the city’s public rights-of-way to provide electric service in exchange for a franchise fee collected by the utility and paid to the city. Twenty-five years is the maximum franchise length allowed by the Oklahoma Constitution.

The proposition reads as follows: “Shall a franchise be granted to the Oklahoma Gas and Electric Company, a corporation, its successors and assigns giving it the right to produce, transmit and distribute electricity within the Town and to sell electricity therein for all purposes for which it may be used, to the Town, its inhabitants and the public generally, and the right to construct, maintain and operate a system of poles, wires, conduits and other facilities and equipment in, upon, across, under and over the streets, alleys, public grounds or ways in the Town for such purposes, for a period of twenty-five (25) years; providing compensation to the Town; in accordance with the terms of Ordinance Number 2025-04-01, passed and approved by the Board of Trustees of the Town of Bowlegs, Oklahoma, on the 12th day of April, 2025?”

In March 2024, Norman voters rejected a similar franchise agreement with OG&E for the second time in two years. Despite the rejection, OG&E continues to provide services to that city.

OG&E, founded in 1902, provides electrical services to over 840,000 customers throughout Oklahoma and Arkansas.

In addition to the Bowlegs referendum, a countywide election will be held the same day, Sept. 9. Voters will face a proposal to increase the county’s sales tax rate by one-half cent to benefit education in Seminole County. If passed, over 90% of the collected funds will be distributed to the county’s 10 public school districts, based on average student enrollment or membership. Schools named in the tax proposal are Bowlegs, Butner, Justice, Konawa, New Lima, Sasakwa, Seminole, Strother, Varnum and Wewoka. Less than 5% of the funds will be provided to Seminole State College for capital improvements and less than 5% will benefit the District Attorney’s Child Advocacy Project.

Today, Aug. 15, is the final day to register to be able to vote in both elections. Voter Registration Applications can be downloaded from the State Election Board website at oklahoma. gov/elections. You may also complete a form at your County Election Board. Most post offices, tag agencies, and public libraries have applications available upon request. The Seminole County Election Board is located at 123 S Mekusukey, Wewoka and is open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. For questions, please contact the Election Board at 405-2572786 or seminolecounty@elections.ok.gov.