Because none of the seven candidates for assistant chief of the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma received a majority (over 50 percent) of the votes in the July 10 General Election, a runoff for assistant chief will be held on Aug. 7.

The two candidates that received the most votes July 10 and will be on the runoff ballot were Brian Thomas Palmer (372 votes, or 21.8 percent) and Anthony “Buddy” Wood (338 votes, or 19.8 percent). The five other candidates that competed in the July 10 election were Thomas Yahola Jr. (317 votes), Jasha Rhiannon Lyons Echo-Hawk (215 votes), William Randolph Northcott (173 votes), Joe Coon (155 votes) and Jeffery Dean Harjo (138 votes).

Runoff Absentee Ballot Request Forms were mailed out Monday by the Election Service to members that voted by absentee in the General Election. Voters must have Absentee Ballot Request forms returned to the Election board before the deadline of July 19. Ballots can be dropped off or mailed to the address on the form. Ballots must have an original signature and list a phone number in case there are any questions.

Anyone that did not vote absentee in the General Election but would like to vote absentee in the runoff election can request a absentee ballot request form or download one from the www.sno-nsn.gov website. Click on the Election Board link at the top. Absentee ballot request forms must be received by the Election Board no later than the last mail run on Aug. 7.

Polling locations for the runoff are: Sasakwa Community Building, 119 State Highway 56, Sasakwa; Strother Community Building-Thomas Little CC, 11411 NS 3610, Seminole; North Community Building - Mekusukey Mission, 12579 NS 3540, Seminole; Crooked Oak Public Schools - Administration Building, 1450 S Eastern, Oklahoma City; Shawnee Middle School, 4300 N. Union Ave, Shawnee.

Polls will open on Aug. 7 at 7:00 a.m. and close at 7:00 p.m.

For more information, contact the election board at electionboard@sno-nsn. gov or call (405) 652-0195.