Election administration in Oklahoma

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Early voting
Absentee/mail-in voting
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State poll opening and closing times
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Election administration encompasses a state's voting policies, procedures, and enforcement. These include voter identification requirements, early and absentee/mail-in voting provisions, voter list maintenance methods, and more. Each state's voting policies dictate who can vote and under what conditions.

Below, you will find details on the following election administration topics in Oklahoma:

Poll times[edit]

See also: State poll opening and closing times

In Oklahoma, all polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Central Time. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.^[2]

Voter registration[edit]

Check your voter registration status here.

To vote in Oklahoma, one must be at least 18 years old, a United States citizen, and a resident of Oklahoma.^[3]

The deadline for registration is 25 days prior to the election.

“	You can fill out a Voter Registration Application using the OK Voter Portal "wizard." (Be sure to print, sign, and mail or hand-deliver the application to your County Election Board to complete the process.) Voter registration applications are also available at your County Election Board, most tag agencies, post offices, and libraries and can be downloaded from the State Election Board website..[4]	”
—Oklahoma State Election Board[3]

Once an applicant has been successfully registered, the county election board will mail him or her a voter identification card.^[3]

Automatic registration[edit]

Oklahoma does not practice automatic voter registration.^[5]

Online registration[edit]

See also: Online voter registration

Oklahoma has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.^[6]

Same-day registration[edit]

Oklahoma does not allow same-day voter registration.^[5]

Residency requirements[edit]

To register to vote in Oklahoma, you must be a resident of the state.^[3]

Verification of citizenship[edit]

See also: Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States

Oklahoma does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual must attest that they are a U.S. citizen when registering to vote. According to the state's voter registration application, a voter who submits false information commits a "felony punishable by not more than five years in prison, by a fine of not more than $50,000, or both."^[7]

Verifying your registration[edit]

The Oklahoma State Election Board allows residents to check their voter registration status online by visiting this website.

Early and absentee/mail-in voting policy[edit]

Early voting[edit]

See also: Early voting

Oklahoma permits early voting. Learn more by visiting this website.

Early voting permits citizens to cast ballots in person at a polling place prior to an election. In states that permit no-excuse early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on Election Day. States that allow voters to cast no-excuse absentee/mail-in ballots in person are counted as no-excuse early voting states.

As of February 2024, 47 states and the District of Columbia permitted no-excuse early voting.

Absentee/mail-in voting[edit]

See also: Absentee/mail-in voting

All voters are eligible to vote absentee in Oklahoma. There are no special eligibility requirements for voting absentee.^[8]

Applications for absentee ballots must be received by 5 p.m. on the third Monday preceding an election. A returned absentee ballot must then be received by election officials before 7 p.m. on Election Day.^[8]

Although all Oklahoma voters are eligible to vote absentee, those who are physically incapacitated, living in a nursing home, or serving in the military or living overseas may request a special absentee ballot designed for their circumstances.^[8]

Returning absentee/mail-in ballots[edit]

See also: Mail ballot collection and return laws by state

Absentee/mail-in ballots in Oklahoma can be returned by mail or in person to the voter’s county election board. Ballots returned by mail must be received by the election board by 7 p.m. on election day to be counted. Ballots returned in person can be delivered during business hours and must be returned by the close of business on the day before the election.^[8]

Oklahoma law allows the following people to return an absentee/mail-in ballot:

• Voters themselves with valid identification,
• A spouse or relative of the voter in the first or second degree,
• A voter's assistant or agent acting pursuant,
• An absentee voting board member who is assisting a voter confined to a nursing home or veterans center,
• An employee of the Federal Voting Assistance Program, the United States Department of Defense or the Oklahoma National Guard who is assisting a uniformed-services voter, and
• An election official acting in accordance with the law.

Read the law here.

Signature requirements and cure provisions[edit]

Absentee/mail-in ballots in Oklahoma include a return envelope printed with an affidavit that must be signed by the voter. The voter’s signature must be witnessed and notarized by a notary public. Absentee/mail-in ballots lacking a signature or notarization will not be counted. Oklahoma law does not include a cure provision, or a law allowing voters to correct an issue with the signature on their ballot.^[9]

Was your absentee/mail-in ballot counted?[edit]

Voters can use the Online Voter Tool provided by the Oklahoma State Election Board to check the status of their absentee/mail-in ballot.

Voter identification requirements[edit]

See also: Voter ID in Oklahoma

See also: Voter identification laws by state

Oklahoma requires voters to present identification while voting.^[10] Generally, voters are required to present a photo ID, but there is an exception to this requirement.

Valid forms of identification include government-issued photo IDs and county election board voter identification cards (which do not include photographs).

Voters can present a document issued by the United States government, the State of Oklahoma, or a federally recognized tribal government. The document must include the following information:

• Name
• Photograph
• Expiration date that is after the date of the election^[10]

Click here to learn more about the background of Oklahoma's law.

As of April 2024, 35 states required voters to present identification in order to vote at the polls on Election Day. Of these states, 24 required voters to present identification containing a photograph, and 11 accepted other forms of identification. The remaining 16 states did not require voters to present identification in order to vote at the polls on Election Day.

Valid forms of identification differ by state. In certain states that require voters to provide identification, there may be exceptions that allow some voters to cast a ballot without providing an ID. To see more about these exceptions, see details by state. Commonly accepted forms of ID include driver's licenses, state-issued identification cards, and military identification cards.

Provisional balloting for voters without ID[edit]

Voters who do not have ID while voting may cast provisional ballots. See below for provisional ballot rules.

Provisional ballot rules[edit]

Voters in Oklahoma are given provisional ballots, or ballots requiring additional steps or information before they can be counted, under the following circumstances:^[11]

(1) The voter does not have or does not provide an acceptable proof of identity.

(2) The voter's name on an otherwise valid proof of identity document does not substantially conform to the voter's name in the Precinct Registry.

(3) The voter disputes the political affiliation, school district, or municipality listed in the Precinct Registry.

(4) The voter meets the criteria listed on page 31 for uniformed services or overseas voter.

A provisional ballot is rejected in the following circumstances:^[12]

• If the voter is not registered to vote in the county;
• If the voter voted in the incorrect precinct;
• If the voter’s identity cannot be verified;
• If the voter did not change his or her party affiliation before the stated deadline;
• If the "US/OV voter does not provide an address of residence within the county or the address provided is located in another precinct."

In cases where a voter casts a provisional ballot due to not having the proper identification, the voter is asked to fill out and sign an affidavit verifying their identity. After the election, county officials investigate the information provided on the affidavit when determining whether to count the ballot.^[13]

Was your provisional ballot counted?[edit]

Voters who cast a provisional ballot may contact their county election board office during the office's regular business hours no earlier than 5:00 p.m. on the Friday after the election to check whether their ballot was counted and, if not, why it was rejected. Oklahoma Administrative Code section 230:35-3-133a states:

“

An individual voter who casts a provisional ballot shall be able to learn whether or not the provisional ballot was counted, and if it was not counted, the reason it was not counted by contacting the County Election Board office during regular business hours after 5 p.m. on Friday following the election.[14][4]

”

Click here to find contact information for county election boards.

Local election officials[edit]

Primary election type[edit]

See also: Primary elections in Oklahoma

A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. In Oklahoma, the Republican Party conducts a closed primary, in which only registered party members may participate. The Democratic Party holds a semi-closed primary, in which unaffiliated voters may participate.^[15]

For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.

Time off work for voting[edit]

In Oklahoma, employers must grant employees two hours of paid time off work to vote only when certain conditions are met. According to the Oklahoma State Election Board, the provisions are:^[16]

“

(1) An employee must work at such a distance that extended time off would be necessary to vote. (2) Time off for voting can only be granted upon oral or written request and must be made at least three days prior to the day in which the voter intends to be absent. (3) The employer may select the day(s) and/or hour(s) the employee may use to vote. (4) Time off will not be granted to employees, if a three-hour voting period exists before or after the employees’ normal working hours. (5) Employers may alter an employee’s work scheduled to accommodate voting hours. Upon proof of voting, an employee will not be subject to any loss of compensation or other penalty for such absence.[4]

”

Violation of the law by employers results in a fine of $50 to $100.^[17]

As of September 2024, 28 states required employers to grant employees time off to vote. Within these 28 states, policies varied as to whether that time off must be paid and how much notice must be given.

Voting rules for people convicted of a felony[edit]

See also: Voting rights for people convicted of a felony

In Oklahoma, people convicted of a felony regain their voting rights automatically after a period of time equivalent to the original sentence—including incarceration, parole, and probation—has passed, unless these people receive a pardon for their offenses.^[18]

Voting rights for people convicted of a felony vary from state to state. In the majority of states, people convicted of a felony cannot vote while they are incarcerated but may regain the right to vote upon release from prison or at some point thereafter.^[5]

Voter list maintenance[edit]

All states have rules under which they maintain voter rolls—or, check and remove certain names from their lists of registered voters. Most states are subject to the parameters set by The National Voter Registration Act (NVRA).^[19] The NVRA requires states to make efforts to remove deceased individuals and individuals who have become ineligible due to a change of address. It prohibits removing registrants from voter lists within 90 days of a federal election due to change of address unless a registrant has requested to be removed, or from removing people from voter lists solely because they have not voted. The NVRA says that states may remove names from their registration lists under certain other circumstances and that their methods for removing names must be uniform and nondiscriminatory.^[20]

When names can be removed from the voter list[edit]

Oklahoma law authorizes election officials to remove the names of voters from the registered voting list if an individual:^[21]

• dies
• is adjudged incapacitated for the purpose of voting
• is convicted of a felony
• confirms in writing that they have moved outside of their voting jurisdiction
• requests in writing to be removed
• remains on the inactive voter list through two general elections.

Inactive voter list rules[edit]

Oklahoma law requires the State Election Board to send an address confirmation notice, every two years, to voters who:

• have had election-related mail returned as undeliverable
• have been identified as a potential duplicate voter
• have been determined to have moved outside of their county or state
• have possibly registered to vote in another state
• have neither voted in an election nor updated their voter registration since the second previous general election
• have surrendered their driver's license to the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety.

If the confirmation notice is returned as undeliverable or not returned within 60 days, the voter is to be placed on the inactive voter list. If the voter remains on the inactive voter list through two general elections, their voter registration status is cancelled.^[22]

The Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC)[edit]

See also: Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC)

According to its website, ERIC is a nonprofit corporation that is governed by a board of member-states. These member states submit voter registration and motor vehicle registration information to ERIC. ERIC uses this information, as well as Social Security death records and other sources, to provide member states with reports showing voters who have moved within their state, moved out of their state, died, have duplicate registrations in their state, or are potentially eligible to vote but are not yet registered. ERIC's website describes its funding as follows: "Members fund ERIC. New members pay a one-time membership fee of $25,000, which is reserved for technology upgrades and other unanticipated expenses. Members also pay annual dues. Annual dues cover operating costs and are based, in part, on the citizen voting age population in each state."^[23]

By 2022, 33 states and the District of Columbia had joined ERIC. As of May 2024, 24 states and the District of Columbia were members in the ERIC program.^[24]

As of August 2023, Oklahoma was not participating in the ERIC program.

Post-election auditing[edit]

Oklahoma state law requires post-election audits. Officials from county election boards conduct a "manual or electronic examination of a limited number of ballots". The exact procedures and deadline for completion of the audit are determined by the secretary of the state election board.^[25]

Post-election audits check that election results tallied by a state's voting system match results from paper records, such as paper ballots filled out by voters or the paper records produced by electronic voting machines. Post-election audits are classified into two categories: audits of election results—which include traditional post-election audits as well as risk-limiting audits—and procedural audits.^[26][27]

Typically, traditional post-election audits are done by recounting a portion of ballots, either electronically or by hand, and comparing the results to those produced by the state's voting system. In contrast, risk-limiting audits use statistical methods to compare a random sample of votes cast to election results instead of reviewing every ballot. The scope of procedural audits varies by state, but they typically include a systematic review of voting equipment, performance of the voting system, vote totals, duties of election officials and workers, ballot chain of custody, and more.

As of October 2024, 49 states and the District of Columbia had some form of post-election audit by law. Of these, 35 states and the District of Columbia required traditional post-election audits, while six states required risk-limiting post-election audits by law. Eight states used some other form of post-election audit, including procedural post-election audits.^[28][29]

Noteworthy events[edit]

Signing of House Bill 2663 (2021)[edit]

On May 11, 2021, Governor Kevin Stitt (R) signed HB2663, making the following modifications to Oklahoma's election laws:^[30]

• Moved the deadline for requesting absentee/mail-in ballots from 5 p.m. on the Tuesday preceding an election to 5 p.m. on the third Monday preceding an election.
• Added one day for in-person early voting in general elections (8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the Wednesday immediately preceding a general election; early voting previously opened on the Thursday preceding the election).

These changes were scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2022.^[30]

Election policy ballot measures[edit]

See also: Elections and campaigns on the ballot and List of Oklahoma ballot measures

Ballotpedia has tracked the following ballot measures relating to election and campaign policy in Oklahoma.

1. Oklahoma Fair Elections, State Question 78 (1916)
2. Oklahoma Registration of Electors, State Question 80 (1916)
3. Oklahoma Direct Election of U.S. Senators, State Question 41 (August 1912)
4. Oklahoma State Conduct of General Elections, State Question 21 (1910)
5. Oklahoma Qualifications for Electors, State Question 82 (August 1916)
6. Oklahoma State Question 312, Runoff Primary Elections Measure (July 1944)
7. Oklahoma Voting Age, State Question 356 (1952)
8. Oklahoma Primary Elections, State Question 388 (July 1960)
9. Oklahoma Qualified Electors, State Question 412 (May 1964)
10. Oklahoma Residential Requirements for Electors, State Question 432 (May 1966)
11. Oklahoma Voting Requirements, State Question 479 (December 1971)
12. Oklahoma Voting Age, State Question 484
13. Oklahoma Utility Bond Elections, State Question 488 (August 1972)
14. Oklahoma Qualifications of Electors, State Question 503 (August 1974)
15. Oklahoma Election Regulations, State Question 531 (1978)
16. Oklahoma Repeal Poll Tax, State Question 590 (1986)
17. Oklahoma Majority Needed to Approve Bond Issues, State Question 616 (August 1988)
18. Oklahoma Labor Commissioner Elections, State Question 613 (1988)

Recent legislation related to election administration in Oklahoma[edit]

The table below lists bills related to election administration that have been introduced during (or carried over to) the current legislative session in Oklahoma. The following information is included for each bill:

• State
• Bill number
• Official name or caption
• Most recent action date
• Legislative status
• Topics dealt with by the bill

Bills are organized alphabetically, first by state and then by bill number. The table displays up to 100 results by default. To view additional results, use the arrows in the upper-right corner of the table. For more information about a particular bill, click the bill number. This will open a separate page with additional information.

Election administration agencies[edit]

Election agencies[edit]

See also: State election agencies

Individuals seeking additional information about voting provisions in Oklahoma can contact the following local, state, and federal agencies.

Oklahoma County Election Boards

Click here for a list

Oklahoma State Election Board

2300 N Lincoln Blvd, Room G28

State Capitol Building

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73105

Phone: 405-521-2391

Fax: 405-521-6457

Email: info@elections.ok.gov

Website: https://oklahoma.gov/elections.html

Oklahoma Ethics Commission

2300 N Lincoln Blvd, Room G27

State Capitol Building

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73105

Phone: 405-521-3451

Fax: 405-521-4905

Email: ethics@ethics.ok.gov

Website: https://www.ok.gov/ethics/

U.S. Election Assistance Commission

633 3rd Street NW, Suite 200

Washington, DC 20001

Phone: 301-563-3919

Toll free: 1-866-747-1471

Email: clearinghouse@eac.gov

Website: https://www.eac.gov

Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker[edit]

State election laws are changing. Keeping track of the latest developments in all 50 states can seem like an impossible job.

Here's the solution: Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker.

Ballotpedia's Election Administration Tracker sets the industry standard for ease of use, flexibility, and raw power. But that's just the beginning of what it can do:

• Ballotpedia's election experts provide daily updates on bills and other relevant political developments
• We translate complex bill text into easy-to-understand summaries written in everyday language
• And because it's from Ballotpedia, our Tracker is guaranteed to be neutral, unbiased, and nonpartisan

The Ballot Bulletin[edit]

The Ballot Bulletin is a weekly email that delivers the latest updates on election policy. The Ballot Bulletin tracks developments in election policy around the country, including legislative activity, big-picture trends, and recent news. Each email contains in-depth data from our Election Administration Legislation Tracker. You'll also be able to track relevant legislation, with links to and summaries of the bills themselves.

Click here to view recent issues and subscribe.

Ballot access[edit]

See also: Ballot access requirements for political candidates in Oklahoma

In order to get on the ballot in Oklahoma, a candidate for state or federal office must meet a variety of state-specific filing requirements and deadlines. These regulations, known as ballot access laws, determine whether a candidate or party will appear on an election ballot. These laws are set at the state level. A candidate must prepare to meet ballot access requirements well in advance of primaries, caucuses, and the general election.

There are three basic methods by which an individual may become a candidate for office in a state.

1. An individual can seek the nomination of a state-recognized political party.
2. An individual can run as an independent. Independent candidates often must petition in order to have their names printed on the general election ballot.
3. An individual can run as a write-in candidate.

This article outlines the steps that prospective candidates for state-level and congressional office must take in order to run for office in Oklahoma. For information about filing requirements for presidential candidates, click here. Information about filing requirements for local-level offices is not available in this article (contact state election agencies for information about local candidate filing processes).

Redistricting[edit]

See also: Redistricting in Oklahoma

Redistricting is the process by which new congressional and state legislative district boundaries are drawn. Each of Oklahoma's five United States Representatives and 149 state legislators are elected from political divisions called districts. United States Senators are not elected by districts, but by the states at large. District lines are redrawn every 10 years following completion of the United States census. The federal government stipulates that districts must have nearly equal populations and must not discriminate on the basis of race or ethnicity.^{[31][32][33][34]}

Oklahoma was apportioned five seats in the U.S. House of Representatives after the 2020 census, the same number it received after the 2010 census.

State process[edit]

See also: State-by-state redistricting procedures

In Oklahoma, both congressional and state legislative district boundaries are drawn by the Oklahoma State Legislature. These lines may be vetoed by the governor.^[35]

If the legislature is unable to approve a state legislative redistricting plan, a backup commission must draw the lines. The commission comprises the following seven members:^[35]

1. The governor appoints one Republican and one Democrat.
2. The majority leader of the Oklahoma State Senate appoints one Republican and one Democrat.
3. The majority leader of the Oklahoma House of Representatives appoints one Republican and one Democrat.
4. The lieutenant governor serves as the non-voting chair of the commission.

The Oklahoma Constitution requires that state Senate district boundaries take into account "population, compactness, area, political units, historical precedents, economic and political interests, contiguous territory, and other major factors."^[35]

The redistricting committee of the state House adopted redistricting guidelines similar to the senatorial district requirements described above. These guidelines apply to state House and congressional districts, as well. These guidelines may be amended by the state legislature at its discretion.^[35]

Ballotpedia's election coverage[edit]

Click the tiles below to navigate to 2024 election coverage, or use the map below:

See also[edit]

• 2024 election dates and deadlines
• Voting in Oklahoma
• Ballot access requirements for political candidates in Oklahoma
• Redistricting in Oklahoma

Elections in Oklahoma[edit]

• Oklahoma elections, 2024
• Oklahoma elections, 2023
• Oklahoma elections, 2022
• Oklahoma elections, 2021
• Oklahoma elections, 2020
• Oklahoma elections, 2019
• Oklahoma elections, 2018
• Oklahoma elections, 2017
• Oklahoma elections, 2016
• Oklahoma elections, 2015
• Oklahoma elections, 2014

External links[edit]

• Oklahoma State Election Board

Footnotes[edit]

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