Student Voting Guide | Oklahoma
This student voting guide explains the laws for the state of Oklahoma. If you wish to vote from your school address, check the student voting guide for the state in which you attend school. If you are interested in casting an absentee ballot in your home state, check the student voting guide for that state.
The Brennan Center is committed to giving students as much information as possible to help you exercise your constitutional right to vote. More than ever in recent history, changes to voting laws are being implemented in ways that can affect your ability to make your vote count. In addition to the content you will find in this Student Voting Guide, a report that we issued last year documents a number of these changes and we continue to track passed and pending voting law changes here. While we are working to give you up-to-date information, we urge you to be proactive! In order to ensure you have all the information you need before casting your vote, you should also check with your state and local election officials for information about additional requirements or regulations.
This voting guide was last updated in July 2012.
To vote in Oklahoma you must be 18 years old, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Oklahoma.[1] If you will turn 18 by the next election, you may preregister to vote within the 60 days before that election.[2] If you have been convicted of a felony, it may impact your ability to vote.[3] You should contact your local election officials if you think you may be affected by a felony conviction.
Registration ends on the 25th day days before Election Day.[4] For the 2012 General Election the last day to register is October 12th. You may register in person at your county election board, at the DMV, or by mail.[5] If you mail your registration application it must be postmarked by the registration deadline to be accepted for the election.[6]
All “bona fide” residents of Oklahoma have the right to register and vote.[7] Under Oklahoma law, if you move to or within Oklahoma, the most important factor in determining your voting residency is your intent to leave your old home and establish a new one.[8]
At School.
Students can establish residency in Oklahoma if they have an intention to remain at their Oklahoma school address for the time being, and they intend to make it their principal home.[9] Any other interpretation of the residency laws is unconstitutional.
You may register in the community where you attend college and vote in city, state, and federal elections if your permanent residence is your school residence.[10] If you move to school intending to make a home there you may establish residency in Oklahoma.[11] You have the right to cast a ballot as a resident of Oklahoma regardless of your status as a student or whether you pay in-state or out-of-state tuition.
At Home. Students who lived in Oklahoma before moving elsewhere to attend school, and who wish to establish or keep their Oklahoma voting residency (i.e., at their parents’ Oklahoma address), should have no problem doing so. Like most states, Oklahoma allows students to keep their voting residency even if they move out of the district to attend school.[12]
Every voter who votes in person, either on Election Day or during early voting, will be asked to show proof of identity. Proof of identity can be shown by a document issued by the United States government, the State of Oklahoma, or the government of a federally recognized Indian tribe or nation.[13] The document must show your name, photograph, and an unexpired expiration date.[14] You may also use the voter identification card you received by mail from the County Election Board when you registered to vote.[15]
If you are unable to show proof of identity, you may sign a statement under oath affirming that you are the person identified on the precinct registry and vote by provisional ballot.[16] Your vote will be counted if it is cast in the correct precinct and evidence of your identity can be found by the county election board.[17]
Any registered voter may vote absentee.[18] You must apply for an absentee ballot by 5:00 p.m. on the Wednesday before Election Day.[19] You may apply in person at your county election board, by mail, or fax.[20] The blank application is available online at the Board of Elections’ website.
When you fill out your absentee ballot, you will also have to fill out and sign the accompanying affidavit.[21] Your signature must be notarized by a notary public, at no charge to you.[22] Your county election board must receive your absentee ballot by 7:00 p.m. on Election Day.[23]
As a convenience to voters, Oklahoma has early voting from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the Friday and Monday before all elections, and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday before Election Day for state and federal elections.[24] At early voting sites, you can vote any precinct’s ballot for that county. Check with your local election official for locations and dates.
Last Updated in July 2012
[1] Okla. Const. art. III, § 1.
[2] Okla. Stat. Ann. tit. 26, § 4-103 (2012).
[3] Okla. Stat. Ann. tit. 26 § 4-101(1) (2012).
[4] Okla. Stat. Ann. tit. 26, § 4-110.1(A) (2012).
[5] Okla. Stat. Ann. tit. 26 § 4-103.1(A).
[6] Okla. Stat. Ann. tit. 26 § 4-110.1(A).
[7] Okla. Const. art. III, § 1.
[8] In re Initiative Petition No. 379, State Question No. 726, 155 P.3d 32, 41 (Okla. 2006).
[9] See Dunn v. Blumstein, 405 U.S. 330, 330 (1972); Williams v. Salerno, 792 F.2d 323, 328 (2d Cir. 1986).
[10] Ok. Op. Atty. Gen. No 71-328 (Sep. 9, 1971).
[11] In re Initiative Petition No. 379, State Question No. 726, 155 P.3d 32, 41 (Okla. 2006).
[12] See Oklahoma State Election Board, Frequently Asked Questions available at http://www.ok.gov/elections/faqs.html#q621 (last visited July 6, 2012).
[13] Okla. Stat. Ann. tit. 26, § 7-114(a)(4) (2012).
[14] Okla. Stat. Ann. tit. 26, § 7-114(a)(1)-(3) (2012).
[15] Okla. Stat. Ann. tit. 26, § 7-114(a) (2012).
[16] Okla. Stat. Ann. tit. 26, § 7-114(b) (2012).
[17] Okla. Stat. Ann. tit. 26, § 7-116.1(c) (2012).
[18] Okla. Stat. Ann. tit. 26, § 14-105 (2012).
[19] Okla. Stat. Ann. tit. 26, § 14-103 (2012).
[20] Okla. Stat. Ann. tit. 26, § 14-105 (2012).
[21] Okla. Stat. Ann. tit. 26, § 14-108 (2012).
[22] Okla. Stat. Ann. tit. 26, § 14-108 (2012).
[23] Okla. Stat. Ann. tit. 26, § 14-104 (2012).
[24] Okla. Stat. Ann. tit. 26, § 14-115.4(A) (2012); Oklahoma State Election Board, Frequently Asked Questions available at http://www.ok.gov/elections/faqs.html#q621 (last visited July 6, 2012).
