Whether you’ve been voting for years or this is your first election, casting a ballot can be intimidating if you don’t have all the information you need.
That’s why KOSU has compiled this FAQ guide on casting a ballot in Oklahoma.
When is the deadline to register to vote?
The deadline to register for the Nov. 5 General Election is October 11, 2024.
The last day to request an absentee ballot for the Nov. 5 General Election is October 21, 2024. One must first be registered at least 10 days prior.
BONUS: The deadline to register to vote for the already scheduled special election in January next year is December 20, 2024.
How do I register to vote?
In order to exercise your democratic right to vote, you must be registered and fit specific requirements. To vote in Oklahoma, you must be an Oklahoma resident. You must also be a U.S. citizen, at least 18 years old and not currently on probation or parole for a felony. You can re-register and vote if you are no longer on probation or parole.
Before registering, grab your state ID and keep it handy. You will need it whether you register online, in person or by mail.
- ONLINE: The newest way to register is by visiting the OK Voter Portal website and answering several questions. You are required to have a signature on file with Service Oklahoma for this option.
- IN PERSON: If you are more comfortable speaking to someone in person, you can register at your County Election Board office, local tag agency or certain public assistance agencies.
- MAIL: A Voter Registration Application must be completed, and it can be done in two ways. You can download and print the application from the State Election Board website or receive a hard copy from most tag agencies, libraries and post offices. You can also fill out the application online through the OK Voter Portal “wizard.” Once completed, the application needs to be mailed or taken to your County Election Board.
Do I have to register with a political party?
No, you don’t have to register with a political party to vote in Oklahoma. However, registered partisans receive some voting opportunities that independent voters do not.
In Oklahoma, there are three parties recognized by the state election board: the Democratic party, the Republican party and the Libertarian party. Oklahomans may choose to register with one or none of these parties. If they do not choose a party, they will be marked as an independent voter.
Oklahoma is a closed primary state, meaning that when primary elections roll around, only voters registered in a particular party may vote in that party’s primary. Recognized parties do have the opportunity to open their primaries up to independent voters, which the Democratic party has chosen to do for 2024 and 2025.
All registered voters, regardless of party affiliation, can vote in the general election. In addition, if there are nonpartisan elections (such as a ballot measure) held on the same day as a primary, independent voters are welcome to vote in those.
If you wish to switch your political party, you are able to do so as long as it is not between April 1 and August 31 in an even-numbered year.
How do I find my polling location?
You can only vote at the voting precinct assigned to you. Each residence address has a specific voting location assigned to it and that’s where you’ll need to go on Election Day.
You can easily find your polling location using the OK Voter Portal. You will need your name (as it appears on your registration) and date of birth to log into the site. Then, under the blue section that says “voter information,” choose the first button. There, you will find the name of your polling place and its address.
Your polling place might have changed since the last presidential election, so it doesn’t hurt to double-check. In 2022, many voters were assigned new polling places due to redistricting.
When you show up to your polling place to cast a vote, remember to leave your campaign shirts, hats, buttons or other accessories at home. Oklahoma has restrictions on “electioneering,” which is advocating for or against a candidate or issue on the ballot within 300 feet of the ballot box. If you forget, you may be asked to remove or cover your items or be asked to leave.
You are allowed to bring small notes or a marked sample ballot with you to your polling location.
If my polling place is a church, do I have to attend services there to be able to vote?
Voting in a church isn’t uncommon — in 2022, 58% of Oklahoma’s polling places were churches. But it can be intimidating or off-putting for some voters.
You are not required to attend services, hold certain religious beliefs or engage with any religious materials to vote, even if your polling place is a church. The right to freedom from government-backed religious indoctrination is enshrined in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
Some argue that using religious sites as polling places violates this right. One of the most important challenges to churches as polling places arose from Miami, Oklahoma, when atheist and mayoral candidate Frank Otero sued the state election board in 1992. Otero said his atheist beliefs barred him from entering a place of worship. A federal judge called that argument frivolous and ruled that church polling places don’t violate the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause.
Churches and other religious sites are exempt from the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you’re concerned about accessing your polling place, the Oklahoma Election Board says to call your county election office. You can also request an accessible absentee ballot via the OK Voter Portal up until 15 days before an election — for the November general election, that’s Oct. 21.
What is absentee voting?
If you’re registered to vote in Oklahoma and unable to make it to your polling location, you can request a ballot be mailed to you in advance. It’s important to note: You can request to vote by absentee ballot regardless of the reason, as long as you show proof of identity.
There are many different kinds of absentee ballots you can request. Each type has specific requirements for requesting and returning the ballot. Some require the document to be notarized, while others may require witnesses to sign it.
The majority of ballots must be sent in no later than 5 p.m. on the third Monday, or 15 days, before your designated election.
