Absentee Ballots: Key Instructions For Oklahoma Voters To Avoid Rejection

The deadline is Monday to request absentee ballots in Oklahoma through the Voter Portal.

They must arrive back by mail before the polls close on election day, or voters can choose to return them in person.

Muskogee County Election Board Secretary Kelly Beach said it’s important for voters to follow the included instructions, to avoid the chance they might be rejected once the mail is opened. There is no mechanism for Oklahoma voters to correct, or “cure” absentee ballots that arrive with incomplete information.

“The voter needs to print their name at the top, and then sign it down here at the bottom,” said Beach, who emphasized the importance of properly filling out the yellow envelope marked “affidavit” that’s included in the packet. It must be signed by the voter, in the presence of a notary, and the notary date must match the date written by the voter. Any deviation results in the ballot being disqualified.

Beach said his office had mailed out more than 800 ballots and received about 350 back. They will be processed in a special meeting of the election board sometime before election day, and the results reported once the polls close.

Voters who request an absentee ballot will receive a large white envelope, with several smaller envelopes inside.

The completed ballot should be placed in the white envelope marked “ballots” and that envelope placed inside the envelope marked “affidavit.” In most cases, it’s pink.

That envelope should be placed into the green return mail envelope, with postage added (2 stamps required) and that is dropped into the mail.

Voters who return their absentee ballots in person should bring ID and remember everything still must be in the green envelope.

County election boards cannot notarize ballot affidavits, but many banks and businesses can, and they cannot charge for the service.

Beach said most of the rejected absentee ballots have issues with the affidavit.

“This is the one that has to be notarized, name printed at the top, the signature along with the date it's voted, and then the notary section down below."

Beach encourages voters with questions about absentee ballots to ask their local officials.

“We don't go out of our way to throw out any votes. We want everybody eligible to vote, to vote,” he said.