We are only a few days away from the election! We have been fielding a lot of voting questions, so we have put together this FAQ to help answer the most common questions. If you have additional questions please email us at info@okhpr.com
1. Can I still mail an absentee ballot?
NO!! It is too late. Hand deliver your ballot to a county state election board location before Monday at 5. You won’t have to wait in line.
2. Can I deliver for a friend or family member?
No, the voter must drop off at a county state election board. You can assist them but they must be present.
3. Why am I getting an early green in-person absentee while early voting?
This is another name for early voting; it’s perfectly normal.
4. Why are my state senator and house representative not on my ballot?
This year, only odd-numbered Senate districts are up for election. Also, some candidates do not have a general election opponent.
5. Can we take our phones in?
Yes, you can and we recommend taking screenshots of our guide, just in case our servers go down. Our website has crashed due to the number of visitors on an election day in the past.
6. Why do I have to show proof of identity?
State law requires all registered voters to prove their identity before voting in person at the precinct polling place on election day or during early voting at the County Election Board.
7. What can I show for proof of identity?
You may show any document issued by the United States, the State of Oklahoma, or a federally recognized tribal government if it includes your name, a photograph of you, and an expiration date that is later than the election in which you are voting. For example, the following documents meet these requirements:
- Oklahoma driver license
- Oklahoma Identification Card
- United States passport
- United States military identification
The law also requires that your name on your proof of identity must match your name in the Precinct RegistryThere are two alternatives to showing a photo identification described above:
- You may show the free Voter Identification Card issued by the County Election Board as proof of identity even though it does not include a photograph.
- You may vote by provisional ballot and prove your identity by signing a sworn affidavit.
8. May I use my tribal membership card as proof of identity?
You may use a tribal membership card if it includes your name and a photograph of you, provided it is not expired.
9. What if I do not have proof of identity with me when I go to vote?
If you do not show proof of identity, you may vote only by provisional ballot. Voters who cast provisional ballots are required to fill out and sign an affidavit that explains why their provisional ballot should be counted. Provisional ballots are sealed inside special envelopes and are not put through the voting device. After election day, County Election Board officials will investigate the information provided by the voter on the affidavit and either will approve the provisional ballot for counting or will reject it based on the outcome of that investigation. In order for a provisional ballot to be approved for counting, the information on the affidavit must match the information in the voter’s registration record.
10. What happens if I refuse to show proof of identity?
If you do not have or if you refuse to show proof of identity, you may vote by provisional ballot and prove your identity by submitting a sworn affidavit with the provisional ballot. Provisional ballots are sealed inside special envelopes and are not put through the voting device. After election day, County Election Board officials will investigate the information provided by the voter on the affidavit and either will approve the provisional ballot for counting or will reject it based on the outcome of that investigation. In order for a provisional ballot to be approved for counting, the information on the affidavit must match the information in the voter’s registration record.
11. If I don’t vote in the Primary Election, can I still vote in the General Election?
Whether you do or do not vote in a primary election has no bearing on your eligibility to vote in a general election. If you are properly registered, you are eligible to vote.
12. Will my ballot be counted if I don’t vote every race on it? What if I leave some races blank?
Whether you vote in all races that appear on your ballot, in only some of the races, or in only one race, any vote you cast is always counted. If you prefer not to vote for a candidate or a question, you are entitled to make that choice. It will not affect the counting of your votes in any other races on your ballot.
13. What is the Electoral College and how does it work?
See this excellent explanation of the Electoral College from the Office of the Federal Register.
14. How does straight party voting work?
When you mark one of the straight-party boxes, the machine will record a vote for the candidate from that party in any race where there is a candidate from that party. If you mark the straight party box but also mark the box next to a candidate from a different party lower on the ballot, the individual vote in that race will overrule the straight party choice in that race only. You will still need to mark non-partisan races such as judicial retention and any ballot questions if you want a vote counted in those races.
15. When are polling places open?
On regular and special election days, polling places are open from 7 AM until 7 PM. (Hours are different for early voting.)
16. Where do I vote?
Find your polling place here.
