Three school board seats — two in Lincoln County, one in Brookhaven — are open going into the qualifying period that begins Wednesday.

Circuit Clerk Dustin Bairfield said school board candidates can begin qualifying on Wednesday at 8 a.m. Their deadline will be Sept. 4 at 5 p.m. School board candidates must run as independents and must have at least 50 signatures of registered voters from that school district.

Lincoln County school board members serve six-year terms. There is a spot for Bogue Chitto and West Lincoln. The positions are currently held by Ricky Welch and Jack Case, respectively.

Brookhaven school board members serve five-year terms, and there is one seat for the district-at-large, outside the city limits but within the district. Currently Stan Patrick holds the position.

These positions will appear on the Nov. 3 ballot. There is no runoff for county school board members per MS code 37-5-9. Brookhaven school board, per MS code 37-7-217, requires a majority vote, if not, a runoff election will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 24.

Bairfield said his office has already received a couple calls regarding when the paperwork would be available. He said candidates can pick up the paperwork to fill out now from the Circuit Clerk’s office but cannot turn it in until Aug. 5.