The qualifying period for candidates planning to run for a seat on the Lauderdale County School District Board of Education begins Tuesday, July 21, and runs through August 20.
Up for election this year is the District 5 seat on the board, which is currently held by Michael Wilson, who also serves as vice president of the board. Terms for school board seats are staggered so no more than two seats are up for election at once.
Members of the board must be qualified electors in the district they’re elected to represent and have lived in the district for at least two years prior to the election. They must also have graduated high school or have a high school equivalency. Board members are elected to serve six-year terms.
While there is no fee to qualify for the race, candidates must file a statement of intent, along with a petition with signatures of at least 50 qualified electors from their district, with the Lauderdale County Circuit Clerk’s office to get on the ballot.
The school board race will not appear on everyone’s ballot come November. Only voters living in District 5 will have the opportunity to cast a vote in the race.
Also included in the 2026 General Election will be races to fill two county-level vacancies. Special elections are set to be held for Lauderdale County Circuit Clerk and Lauderdale County District 2 Justice Court Judge. Candidate qualifying for the special elections also ends August 20.
The November ballot will also include seats for U.S. House of Representatives, one of Mississippi’s two U.S. Senate seats, and Chancery, Circuit and Court of Appeals judges, as well as County Court judges.