Voter registration rises after settlement

The number of Oklahomans registering to vote at public service agencies has tripled over the last three years with voting rights advocates crediting a settlement with the state Election Board.

In 2014, a coalition of state and national organizations threatened the Oklahoma State Election Board with a lawsuit unless it did more to help citizens register to vote at various public offices, such as those that administer food assistance, as required by the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA).

A settlement, which was made outside of court, was reached in 2015 to work with the Department of Human Services, the Oklahoma State Department of Health, the Oklahoma Health Care Authority and other public service agencies to increase voter registration resources.

Voter registration forms are now offered with public assistance applications, and a staff member at each public agency office is responsible for coordinating voter registration resources.

Over the past three years, the average number of monthly voter registrations from the agencies has increased from less than 500 per month to almost 1,500 per month, according to state election data.

“By implementing a comprehensive plan for voter registration services at these agencies across the state, Oklahoma has exemplified the NVRA’s principle and promise: States must do their part to bring all Americans into our democracy,” said Brenda Wright, senior adviser for legal strategies at Demos, a national public policy organization that helped lead the settlement.

Paul Ziriax, Secretary of the Oklahoma State Election Board, said the settlement was made possible because of cooperation from state agencies.

“I am proud of the increases we have seen in voter registration in Oklahoma, and we thank the county election boards, the state’s public assistance agencies and other voter registration agencies for their efforts in helping us to fulfill the mandates of the NVRA,” Ziriax said.