NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 27, 2016
CONTACT: State Election Board PIO Bryan Dean, (405) 522-6624 bdean@elections.ok.gov
State Election Board Offers Tips, Reminders for Oklahoma Voters
(Oklahoma City) – The State Election Board and Secretary Paul Ziriax offer these tips and reminders for Oklahoma voters before they head to the polls for the June 28 State Primary.
BE PREPARED AND KNOW YOUR POLLING PLACE
Study the candidates before going to the polls. Look at your sample ballot using the election board’s Online Voter Tool at www.elections.ok.gov. You can also use the tool to find your polling place or track the status of your absentee ballot.
ELECTION DAY VOTING
Polls are open statewide from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day. Lines at the polls are longest before work, during the lunch hour and after work. Voters can save time by voting during “off-peak” hours – usually from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.
KNOW WHO CAN VOTE IN PRIMARIES
Oklahoma has a modified closed primary system. Normally, only those registered in a party are allowed to vote in the party’s primaries and runoff primaries. However, the law allows recognized parties to notify the Oklahoma State Election Board if they want to let Independent voters participate in their primaries. The Democratic Party and the Libertarian Party are allowing Independents to vote in their primaries in 2016 and 2017. Independent voters can choose whether to vote a Democratic or Libertarian ballot. Republicans declined to open their primaries to Independent voters.
PROOF OF IDENTITY
Oklahoma law requires every voter who votes in person at the precinct polling place or during early voting at the County Election Board to show proof of identity before receiving a ballot.
There are three ways for voters to prove their identity under the law (only one proof of identity is required):
- Show a valid photo ID issued by the federal, state, or tribal government; or
- Show the free voter identification card issued to every voter by their County Election Board; or
- Sign an affidavit and vote a provisional ballot. (If the information on the affidavit matches official voter registration records, the ballot will be counted after Election Day.)
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