“Standard” absentee ballots are the most common types of absentee ballots. No excuse is required to request a “standard” absentee ballot.
By law, “standard” absentee ballot affidavits are required to be notarized.
Absentee Voting
Absentee voting is an easy and convenient way to exercise your right to vote.
NOTICE: The temporary absentee ballot verification option, which allowed voters to include a copy of a valid ID in lieu of a notarized or witnessed signature expired in December 2020. A signed absentee ballot affidavit submitted with a copy of a valid ID cannot be lawfully counted by a county election board under current law.
WARNING
Title 26 of the Oklahoma Statutes provides that any person who knowingly executes a false application for an absentee ballot shall be deemed guilty of a felony. Any person deemed guilty of a felony under provisions of Title 26 shall, upon conviction, be confined in the State Penitentiary for not more than five (5) years, or fined not more than Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00), or both.
WARNING
Absentee ballot harvesting is unlawful at any election conducted by a county election board in Oklahoma.
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.
In most cases, absentee ballot requests must be received no later than 5 p.m., the Tuesday preceding the election. Except as allowed by law, only the voter may submit his or her own absentee ballot request.
Types of Absentee Ballots
There are several types of absentee ballots – each with specific instructions for requesting a ballot and returning a ballot.
Regardless of the type of absentee ballot you request or how you vote – either in person or by mail – Oklahoma law requires proof of identity.
Find your absentee ballot type:
“Physically incapacitated” absentee ballots are available to those who are physically incapacitated and their caregivers.
The absentee ballot affidavit must have the voter’s signature witnessed by two people.
Voters confined to a nursing home or veteran’s center in the county where they are registered to vote will have their ballots hand-delivered to them by the county’s bipartisan Absentee Voting Board. Ballot affidavits are witnessed by two members of the bipartisan Absentee Voting Board.
Voters confined to a nursing home or veteran’s center outside the county where they are registered to vote may apply for a “physically incapacitated” absentee ballot.
Uniformed services members, their spouses and dependents and U.S. citizens who reside outside of the country are eligible to apply. Applicants must meet the qualification requirements of 26 O.S. § 14-137.
Voted absentee ballots must be returned with an affidavit signed by the voter.
Voters who are incapacitated after 5 p.m. the Tuesday preceding the election (after the deadline to request an absentee ballot) may be eligible to apply.
Absentee ballot affidavits must have the voter’s signature witnessed by two people.
Voters who are deployed within 10 days of an election as a first responder or emergency worker, “to assist with the rescue, recovery, or relief efforts of a declared natural disaster or state of emergency,” may be eligible to apply.
Absentee ballot affidavits must be notarized.
Absentee Ballot Notary Services
For your convenience, many banks, credit unions, libraries, businesses and organizations offer notarization services to customers and non-customers alike. In Oklahoma, notaries may not charge a fee to notarize an absentee ballot affidavit.
In-person Absentee (“Early”) Voting
In-person absentee voting is more commonly referred to as “early voting.” No excuse is required to vote early.
Last Modified on
May 26, 2021
