Former Oklahoma Co. Election Official Sues State Election Board Over Ouster

A former Oklahoma County election official is taking the State Election Board to federal court after she was removed from her post on the local election board.

In January, the State Election Board unanimously voted to remove Jenny White as an alternate member from the Oklahoma County Election Board for “recklessly disseminating, false information, lack of respect and professionalism and behavior unbecoming of an election official,” among other reasons. Now in a federal lawsuit, she claims her removal violated her First Amendment rights. 

“The voters of Oklahoma have a right to know what’s really going on with their elections,” White told reporters Monday.

White said she began raising questions both in formal complaints and on her website and podcast after she and other Oklahoma county election board members were made to monitor ballot tabulation through closed-circuit TV instead of in person. 

“My questions were often met with obvious frustration and in some cases hostility,” White said.

State Election Secretary Paul Ziriax responded to White’s concerns in a January letter writing, “There is no evidence provided that illegality or fraud has occurred.” Ziriax said the use of closed-circuit television did not violate state law or election procedures. White disagreed.

“My job was to provide oversight. When I did my job, I was fired,” White said.

Through it all, White claims she is not calling into question the legitimacy of the election, but raising questions about specific procedures.

A spokesperson for the state election board said they can’t comment on pending litigation.