New to the state? Just turned 18? Just got citizenship? Never voted before in your life? Haven’t voted in years? Don’t know where to start?
Eligibility
Who Can Register – You can register to vote if you are a citizen of the United States, a resident of the State
of Oklahoma, and 18 years old or older.
Felons – A convicted felon may not register for a period equal to the time of the original sentence. A convicted felon who has been pardoned may register.
Persons Judged Incapacitated – Persons judged incapacitated by a court may not register to vote.
How to Register
You must fill out a voter registration application form. Voter registration applications are available at your County Election Board, post offices, tag agencies, libraries and many other public locations. You will be offered a voter registration application when you get your driver’s license and when you apply for assistance at some government agencies. You also may download an application form.
You must sign and date the oath printed on the form. When you sign the voter registration application form, you swear that you are eligible to register to vote.
Changing Your Registration
If you need to change your name, your address or your political affiliation, you must fill out another voter registration application form. You may change your registration at any time with one exception. You may not change your political affiliation during the period from April 1 through August 31, inclusive, in any even-numbered year. The last day on which you may change your political affiliation before the closed period is March 31; the first day on which you may change your political affiliation after the closed period is September 1.
Submitting Your Application
You may mail your voter registration application to the State Election Board. The card is already addressed, but you must add a first-class postage stamp. If you fill out your voter registration application form at a tag agency when you get your driver’s license or when you apply for assistance at a government agency, the agency will mail the form to the State Election Board for you.
Voter Identification Card
You do not become a registered voter until the county election board in the county where you reside has approved your application. When your application is approved, the county election board will mail a voter identification card to you. Your voter identification card lists your name, address, political affiliation and the polling place for your voting precinct. When you receive your voter identification card, look at it carefully and report any errors to the county election board immediately. Keep your voter identification card in a safe place and always take it with you when you go to vote.
If your voter registration application cannot be approved, you will receive a letter from the county election board. The letter will tell you why your application was not approved and explain the steps you need to take to become registered. You may be able to return the letter with some additional information, or you may need to fill out and send in another voter registration application form.
Closed Primary System
Oklahoma has a closed primary system with exceptions. Generally, only voters who are registered members of a recognized political party may vote for the party’s candidates in primary and runoff primary elections. However, registered Independent voters may be eligible to vote in party’s primaries and runoff primaries if authorized by the party. The Democratic Party and Libertarian Party have authorized Independent voters to vote in their primary and runoff elections in 2016 and 2017. Registered Republicans may only vote in Republican primaries and runoffs, and Independents may not vote in Republican primaries and runoffs.
Read about our Open Primary: Democratic Open Primary Declaration for Independents
Nonpartisan judicial offices, state questions and county questions often are included in primary elections. All registered voters, including Independents, are entitled to receive those ballots. At general elections, all voters receive the same ballot and may vote for any candidate or question on the ballot.
When to Register
You may submit your voter registration application form at any time. However, voter identification cards cannot be issued during the 24 days prior to an election. If your registration application is received by the county election board during the 24 days before an election, you will not receive your voter identification card until after the election.
If you will become 18 during the 60 days before an election, you may apply for voter registration between 25 and 60 days before the election.
Additional Information
For additional information about voting in Oklahoma, contact your local County Election Board or the State Election Board.
For complete details and further information visit:
Oklahoma Voter Info, Register to Vote