A decision on whether to uphold objections to nominating petitions filed by candidates for District 117 school board should be made tonight.

The objections to the petitions for current school board president Mindy Olson, who’s running for re-election, and candidate Matthew Johnson were filed earlier this month by Anthony Stephens, who is also running for school board.

Among the claims, Stephens says Olson’s petition was signed by the person who notarized it which he says makes it invalid. He says Johnson’s petition was notarized and signed by Olson, which would invalidate those petitions, as well. Stephens also claims the petitions for both Olson and Johnson don’t have correct address information.

Per state election code, school board members Steve Cantrell and Craig Albers will join Springfield attorney Brittany Kink Toigo on an electoral board for tonight’s hearing.

Albers, who is chairman of the electoral board, says Stephens will have an opportunity to make an opening statement about why he filed the objections. Olson and Johnson will have a chance to make a statement defending their petitions.

The electoral board will then decide whether or not to uphold the petitions.

The hearing is opening to the public. It will take place at the Morgan County Courthouse at 300 West State in the Large Courtroom on the 2nd floor at 6:00 tonight.

If the objections are valid, one or both of the candidates would be removed from the ballot.

Also tonight, the District 117 Board of Education will meet at 5:00 at Jacksonville High School to adopt a resolution allowing voters to decide if school board elections should be based on a ward-based system.

The question will appear on the April 9th Consolidated Election ballot.