City Election Set for May 2; Voter, Candidate Deadlines Approach for Primary

The Olney City Council unanimously approved an ordinance ordering a May 2 municipal election for mayor and two city council seats and authorizing the City to contract with Young County Elections to conduct the vote.

The ordinance was approved during the Council’s Jan. 12 meeting, where Rue Rogers said the mayor’s seat and two council positions currently held by Terri Wipperman and Ronnie Cowart will be on the ballot.

Mayor Rogers said the election cost will depend on whether other local entities also hold contested elections. If candidates for the Olney Independent School District board or the Olney Hamilton Hospital Board draw challengers, the cost of the election will be shared among the participating entities. If the City is the only entity holding an election, Olney will bear the full expense.

Mayor Rogers reminded residents that Olney City Council races are at-large, meaning candidates do not run for specific council seats. If more than two candidates file, the two receiving the highest number of votes will be elected. Candidates for mayor must file specifically for that office.

Candidate packets will be available beginning Wednesday, Jan. 13, at City Hall. The deadline to file for a place on the ballot is 5 p.m. Feb. 18. Any applications submitted after that time will be disqualified, Mayor Rogers said.

Early voting for the municipal election will run from April 20 through April 28, with Election Day set for Saturday, May 2, 2026. Voting will take place at the Olney Civic Center, as the Olney Community Library and Art Center remains under renovation.

Mayor Rogers also noted that voting for the March 3 state and federal primary election will move from the library to the Civic Center for the same reason.

The voter registration deadline for the March 3 primary election is Feb. 2. Early voting for the primary will run from Feb. 17 through Feb. 27.

For the May 2 municipal election, the deadline to register to vote is April 2. Applications for ballots by mail must be received by April 21.

The Council also approved the formal order of election, establishing early voting dates, mail ballot deadlines and the election’s effective date, and authorized the City Secretary to finalize the contract with Young County Elections.