Voting in Oklahoma: Everything you need to know

By: Posted byKandis West Posted inAdvocacy Basics/ Info to Action/ Together OK Updates

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Are you eligible to vote?

You can register to vote if you are a citizen of the United States, a resident of the State of Oklahoma, and at least 18 years old or meet the age requirement to pre-register. 

  • Pre-registration – Persons who are at least 17½ years old may pre-register to vote in Oklahoma if they meet all eligibility requirements. Applicants who pre-register cannot vote until they turn 18 years old and the application has been approved by the applicant’s County Election Board Secretary. Applicants will be mailed a Voter ID card upon approval of their registration.
  • Persons Convicted of a Felony – A person convicted of a felony may register to vote when he or she has fully served his or her sentence of court-mandated calendar days, including any term of incarceration, parole or supervision, or completed a period of probation ordered by any court. A convicted felon who has been pardoned may register. Oklahoma lawmakers passed HB 1629 in 2024 that restores voting rights to people convicted of a felony after receiving a pardon or commutation of their sentence. This law goes into effect Jan. 1, 2025.
  • Persons Judged Incapacitated – Persons judged incapacitated by a court may not register to vote.

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How to register: You can register ONLINE, by mail or in person

ONLINE

BY MAIL

IN PERSON

  • Register at your county’s Election Board office office.
  • Register at your local tag agency when you apply for, update, or renew your driver’s license or state ID. Submitted applications will be mailed to the State Election Board by the agent at no cost.
  • Register with select public assistance agencies when you apply for, update, or renew services. Submitted applications will be mailed to the State Election Board by the agent at no cost.

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When to register

You may submit your voter registration application at any time. However, the voter registration deadline for registration by mail, online, hand-delivered, in-person is 25 days before to the date of an election.

  • For the Nov. 5, 2024, general election, the deadline was Friday, Oct. 10, 2024.

If you move to a new county or change your name, you will need to fill out a new voter registration application. Voter registration deadlines are available on the State Election Board website.

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Updating your existing voter registration

You may submit your voter registration updates at any time. However, the deadline to update your existing voter registration is 25 days before to the date of an election. You may need to update your voter registration if you still reside in the same county and want to change your political affiliation. More information on updating your existing voter registration is available on the State Election Board website. 

  • For the Nov. 5, 2024, general election, the deadline was Friday, Oct. 10, 2024.

Voters who voluntarily cancel their registration must wait sixty (60) days to re-register in the same county.

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Party Affiliation: Oklahoma has a closed primary system

Oklahoma has three recognized parties: Democratic Party, Libertarian Party, and Republican Party. You can register as a member of any recognized party in Oklahoma or select “No Party” (independent).

Oklahoma has a closed primary system with exceptions. Generally speaking, you must be a registered voter of a party in order to vote in that party’s primary and/or runoff primary elections. 

However, all recognized parties in Oklahoma may open up their primaries and runoff primaries to voters who register as independents. The Democratic Party has authorized independent voters to vote in its primary and runoff elections in 2024 and 2025. 

Nonpartisan judicial offices, state questions and county questions often are included in primary elections. All registered voters, including Independents, are entitled to receive those ballots. 

At general elections, all voters receive the same ballot and may vote for any candidate or question on the ballot.

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Changing Your Party Affiliation 

You may change your registration at any time with one exception. 

  • You may not change your political affiliation during the period from April 1 through August 31, inclusive, in any even-numbered year. 
  • The last day on which you may change your political affiliation before the closed period is March 31. 
  • The first day on which you may change your political affiliation after the closed period is September 1. Applications received during the closed period will be held and processed after August 31.

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When Do I Vote

You can vote on Election Day, by mail absentee, or in-person absentee (“early voting”). Check the voter information calendar for voting dates. 

  • The 2024 general election will be held Nov. 5, 2024.

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Absentee Voting

Requesting an Absentee Ballot

Any registered voter in Oklahoma may vote by absentee ballot. It is not necessary to give a reason, although some voters may qualify for special conditions.

IMPORTANT: State law requires certain voters to confirm their address before submitting a request for absentee ballots. If you are an inactive voter, OR have been identified by the National Change of Address as having moved, OR have an invalid address for mailing by the United States Postal Service (USPS), OR have had a Voter ID card returned as undeliverable, you will need to complete a Confirm Address for Absentee Ballot form and submit it with your absentee ballot request. 

Absentee Ballot Type

There are several types of absentee ballots including standard, physically incapacitated, visually impaired, nursing home or veteran’s center voters, military or overseas voters, emergency incapacitated voters, and first responders or emergency workers. Each type has specific requirements.  

Learn more about absentee voting here.

Absentee Ballot Notary Services

For your convenience, many banks, credit unions, libraries, businesses and organizations offer free absentee ballot notary services to customers and non-customers alike. In Oklahoma, notaries may not charge a fee to notarize an absentee ballot affidavit. For more information and a list of financial institutions and other business/organizations offering notary services, visit the Oklahoma Election Board website.

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In-person early voting

In-person absentee voting – more commonly referred to as “early voting” in Oklahoma – is available to all voters. Every county has a least one “early voting” site. Find your “early voting” location, dates, and times. Anyone can vote early. No excuse is needed.

  • You can vote early in your county at your designated early voting location from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the Thursday and Friday preceding an election. You must vote in the county where you are registered.
  • Early voting is also available from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the Saturday immediately preceding a state or federal Primary Election, Runoff Primary Election, General Election or Presidential Preferential Primary Election.
  • Early voting is also available from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. the Wednesday preceding the General Election.

For the 2024 general election, the early voting days are:

  • Wednesday, Oct. 30 — 8:00 am – 6:00 pm
  • Thursday, Oct. 31 — 8:00 am – 6:00 pm
  • Friday, Nov. 01 — 8:00 am – 6:00 pm
  • Saturday, Nov. 02 — 8:00 am – 2:00 pm

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In-person voting on election day

  • All voters can vote at their designated precinct on November 5, 2024, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
  • Use the OK Voter Portal to find your polling place.
  • Have your valid ID ready to show poll workers. Proof of identity is required every time you vote. You will find the list of accepted identification on the State Election Board website. 

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Provisional Ballots

  • If you do not have a valid ID, do not leave your polling place. Ask a poll worker for a provisional ballot.
  • You have the right to request a provisional ballot:
    • if you do not have a valid ID,
    • if your name is not in the precinct registry,
    • if you believe your voting information is incorrect and affects your ability to receive certain ballots – for example, to vote in a party’s primary election,
  • To receive a provisional ballot, you will need to sign a Provisional Ballot Affidavit and the Provisional Ballot Roster.
    • After the election and before results are certified, the Secretary of the County Election Board will research your voter registration information. If your eligibility can be verified – your ballot will be counted. 
  • Do not wear or bring anything to vote that could be considered electioneering. Electioneering is advocating for or against a candidate or issue on the ballot.
    • It is a crime to “electioneer” within 300 feet of the entrance to a polling place or in-person absentee voting site or a person who is standing in line to vote outside the polling place or in-person absentee voting site while an election is in progress. The full state statute on electioneering can be found here.
  • Bring your notes. It is acceptable to bring notes or a marked sample ballot to assist you with the voting process. Notes or sample ballots should be kept out of public view until you are ready to mark your ballot. Electioneering rules may apply to any other materials brought to the polling location. 

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Social Media: Wait to Post and Share 

In Oklahoma, it is actually a crime to disclose how you voted while you are still inside the election enclosure.

Who doesn’t want to commemorate their first voting moment? Feel free to take a selfie or a picture of your marked ballot – but don’t post your picture to social media or share it with anyone until you are outside of the election enclosure. (The election enclosure is the area where voters are checked in, issued ballots, and vote.)

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Accessibility for voters with disabilities

Oklahoma voters who have visual or physical disabilities may vote independently and privately at their polling places on election day and during early voting at the County Election Board office preceding every election. 

If you have a disability and would like to vote using an audio-assisted ballot, please let a poll worker know and they will assist you. All voting devices, in every precinct, are equipped with an audio tactile interface (ATI) that the provide the ability to cast ballots privately and independently for voters who have a disability. Learn more about voting as an individual with a disability.  

Voters who use “sip and puff” or tactile input switches may plug their own assistive devices into the ATI controller and use them to operate it.

Some voters choose to vote with the assistance of another person. The Precinct Officials at your polling place are trained to offer assistance to voters who request it. Assistance is available at all elections for:

  • voters who have physical disabilities and are unable to mark their own ballots
  • voters who have visual impairment
  • voters who have physical disabilities or infirmities and are unable to enter the polling place
  • voters who cannot read

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Voting with English as a second language / Votar con inglés como segundo idioma en Oklahoma

  • Are there any accommodations for individuals who are more comfortable voting in another language?
    • In certain locations, the federal government requires that ballots and other election material be provided in multiple languages. The only county in Oklahoma that is subject to this requirement is Texas County.
    • In Texas County, all ballots and election materials are provided in both Spanish and English.
    • It is okay to bring another person into the voting booth with you to translate as long as they do not represent your employer or union. 
  • ¿Hay algunas recomendaciones para personas quienes no hablan inglés?
    • En ciertas ubicaciones, el gobierno requiere que las votaciones y otros materiales para las elecciones sean proporcionadas en otros idiomas. Desafortunadamente, el único condado en Oklahoma que tiene las votaciones en otros idiomas es Texas County.
    • En Texas County, todas las votaciones y materiales de las elecciones son proporcionadas en los dos idiomas: inglés y español.
    • Está bien traer a otra persona contigo en la casilla de votación para ayudarte a traducir mientras no sea un representante de tu unión o tu empleador.

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Know your rights

  • Am I eligible for time off to go vote?
    • By law, employers must allow employees, who are registered to vote, two hours of time to vote either on Election Day or during early voting periods; however, there are several provisions.
      • (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.
    • State law 26 O.S. § 7-101 addresses the provisions around time off for voting.

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Know what to expect

Voting is less intimidating if you know exactly what is on the ballot. We recommend using the OK Voter Portal to view a sample ballot before you head to the polls. Sample ballots in the portal are specific to each voter and ensure there are no surprises when you go to vote. 

By viewing the sample ballot, you can read through state and county questions or make notes to take with you to your voting location. You can also request a sample ballot by contacting your county’s Election Board office.

When you get to the front of the check-in line, the poll worker will ask you for your name and your ID.

  • Be prepared to show your ID. Once the poll worker has found your name in the precinct registry and checked to be sure the name on your ID matches the name in the registry, you will be asked to sign the registry next to your name. You will then be issued a ballot (or multiple ballots.)
  • Voting instructions are on the ballot and can also be found inside the voting booth.
  • Mark your ballot, then take it to the voting device and insert it into the machine. You can insert your ballot face up or face down. The machine will read your ballot regardless of the direction. The voting device will confirm that your ballot was counted.
  • If the voting device rejects your ballot, the screen will indicate the reason. You can override the rejection or take your “spoiled” ballot back to the poll worker and request a new ballot.
  • Watch a YouTube video to See how it works.

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Additional resources for Oklahoman voters

  • The Oklahoma Election Board has provided a Voting 101 resource page about voting in Oklahoma.
  • For other questions, you can contact the Oklahoma State Election Board.
  • Find the address and phone number for your local county election board here.
  • OK Policy has developed information and resources to better voters get better informed on state questions and other issues on the 2024 general election ballot. Visit OK Policy’s 2024 General Election Resource page to learn more.

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Published by Kandis West

Kandis West is a communications professional with more than 15 years of experience. Most recently, she served as the Communications Director for the Oklahoma House Democratic Caucus. She spent nine years in the Olympia/Tacoma area of Washington organizing compensation campaigns for teachers for the Washington Education Association. Kandis has a proven track record of increasing community engagement, public awareness and media exposure around the most pressing issues that impact citizens. She is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma Gaylord College of Journalism.