Request Absentee Ballots for 2020 elections early

TULSA, OK – Voters who want to vote by mail for the 2020 Election Year should submit their absentee ballot applications to their county election boards as soon as possible. Voters can request absentee ballots for individual elections or for all elections they are eligible to vote in during the 2020 Election Year. No excuse is needed to vote by absentee ballot. Bruce Niemi, Vice Chair of the Tulsa County Election Board, explained what absentee voting is and how the procedure works.

“Absentee voting is a convenient way to cast your ballot and avoid long lines on Election Day,” Niemi said.

“There are three types of absentee ballots: conventional ballots, absentee ballots for the physically disabled, and military or soldiers’ ballots.”

Niemi said that each type has requirements for authenticating its validity which must be followed or the county election board will reject it and the vote will not be counted.

“The board has very little discretion in counting these votes if the voter’s affidavit is incomplete,” he explained. “The absentee ballot must be received by mail at the election board no later than Election Day. In addition to the absentee voting described in the announcement, mobile polling workers visit nursing and retirement homes to assist their residents in voting.”

Niemi pointed out that the conventional absentee ballot must be certified by a notary public, and the notary’s seal has to appear on the ballot’s affidavit form.

“The disabled voter’s affidavit has to be signed by two witnesses not counting that of a person assisting the voter in completing the ballot,” Niemi said. “Finally, military ballots only require the signature of the soldier, sailor, airman, marine or coast guardsman.”

Voters can apply electronically using the new OK Voter Portal at: elections.ok.gov/ovp or download an application at: elections.ok.gov. Applications can also be obtained at all county election boards.

For election deadlines and more information on requesting absentee ballots or registering to vote, contact your County Election Board or the State Election Board at: (405) 521-2391 or info@elections.ok.gov.

The Coalition for the American Dream is able to answer questions in Spanish or English about voter registration, absentee voting, and general elections. Call 918231-3340. (La Semana reporters contributed to this article.)