Oklahoma Absentee Voter Guide

Military and overseas voters should check out the Overseas Vote Foundation.  Long Distance Voter's forms and deadlines should only be used by voters with US mailing addresses.

Mail-In Deadlines

General Election: November 4, 2008

Voter Registration

To register to vote in the state of Oklahoma you must

• Be a citizen of the United States
• Be a resident of Oklahoma
• Be 18 years of age on or before election day
• Have not been convicted of a felony, for which a period of time equal to the original sentence has not expired, or for which you have not been pardoned
• Not now be under judgment as an incapacitated person, or a partially incapacitated person prohibited from registering to vote

How to register to vote:

• Recommended: Use our Voter Registration Widget.  Enter your information, print and sign the completed form, and mail it to the address printed on the form. 
• You can also use the Oklahoma voter registration form.  Mail your completed form to the Oklahoma State Election Board.  

ID requirements for first-time voters:

If you register by mail, include a copy of your identification with your voter registration form. If you forget, you'll need to provide ID the first time you vote in person or by absentee ballot.  Acceptable forms of ID include: a copy of a current driver’s license or other photo identification that shows your name OR a copy of a  utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or government document that shows your name and Oklahoma address.

Voter registration verification:

You should receive written confirmation that your voter registration was processed in 2-3 weeks.  Don't panic if you never receive your voter registration card: you don't actually need it to vote.  If you not sure if your registration was processed - or if you simply can't remember if you're register to vote - you can use the voter registration verification tools here.

Absentee Ballots

Good news! Anyone registered voter may vote by absentee ballot in the state of Oklahoma. Even better news: you can use one application to request multiple absentee ballots.  If you'd like, you can go ahead and request ballots for every election in a year!

How to apply for an absentee ballot:

Download and complete the the Oklahoma Application for Absentee Ballot.  If you are incapacitated, convalescing, or in a nursing home, use the Oklahoma Application for Absentee Ballot (for incapacitated voters) instead.

Mail your absentee ballot application to your County Election Board. Once they process your application, they'll mail you an absentee ballot.

ID requirements for absentee voters:

You do not need to provide ID if you've already voted in Oklahoma at least once.  If you are voting for the first time in Oklahoma and you did not include a copy of your ID with your voter registration form, you must include a copy with your absentee ballot application. You may provide a copy of a current driver’s license or other photo identification that shows your name OR a copy of a  utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or government document that shows your name and Oklahoma address.

Emergency absentee ballots:

If you are incapacitated or hospitalized after 5 p.m. on the Tuesday before election day, you may vote using an emergency absentee ballot.  You must submit a written request to your local county election board, and your request must include a statement from your doctor that you are incapacitated and unable to vote in person on election day.  (Your county election office can also provide a form for your voter request and your doctor's statement).  Find someone to hand-deliver your written request and your doctor's statement to the county election board office.  This person is considered your "agent."  The county board will give your agent your absentee ballot.  After your complete your absentee ballot, your agent must return it to the county election board office before 7 p.m. election day.

Absentee ballot instructions:

Your County Election Board will mail you a ballot and a return envelope.  Follow the directions supplied for you with your absentee ballot.  Sign where indicated and mail your completed ballot to your County Election Board.  Your absentee ballot must be received by 7pm on Election Day.

Instructions for Straight Party Voting:

OK Ballots often have straight-party voting options in multiple places on the ballot. A straight-party vote applies ONLY to the set of offices it precedes on the ballot. This means to vote straight-party in all contests, you must mark several separate straight-party selections.

State Contact Information