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Oklahoma Voting History

History of Participation

Oklahoma has a relatively short history in voter participation comparted to the rest of the states. This is because Oklahoma wasn’t accepted into the Union until 1907 even after the civil war and after the 15th amendment was adopted by the Constitution. Since then the 19th amendment has allowed women the right to vote while the 26th amendment has given people of the age 18 years or older the right to vote. Since Oklahoma has been a state the ideology of the state has shifted from leaning democratic to now leaning republican in today’s election. Oklahomans have several different opportunities to vote. The main elections that voters can participate in include deciding the state legislature, the state’s senate and house representatives and lastly the presidential primaries and election. To get started is simple. One must first register with the state as a voter. This can be done either in person or through the mail.

How to Participate

The parties usually set the primary dates and when It comes to locating a place to vote it is simple. The voters have to go to the website ok.gov/elections/ and type in their information. In return then get a location that they can vote at from 7a.m. to 7p.m. by federal law. When going to vote all, you need to bring with you is an ID or proof a citizenship. When participating in Oklahoma’s primaries it is important to know that Oklahoma has semi-closed primaries. This means that the parties choose whether or not they want to allow independent voters. This is voted on every other odd year to determine if independent voters will be allowed to vote in Oklahoma’s primaries for the next two years.

Who Paticipated

The actual statistics for the number of registered voters that have the ability to participate in Oklahoma’s elections show that even in the early 2000’s the democratic party had stronger support from registered voters than the republicans. In recent years, more voters’ have shifted to identify not as republican but instead as independents. In fact, the number of independent voters in Oklahoma has nearly doubled from “174,649” in 2000 to “316,109” in 2017. However, in terms of the overall number of voters registered in Oklahoma the number has stayed relatively constant at around 2,000,000 register voters’. It the most recent election of the roughly 2 million registered in Oklahoma about 75% or about 1.5 million of those registered voters actually voted. Surprisingly only about half of democratic voters registered in Oklahoma showed up for the general election last year. The republican party on the other hand had about 100,000 more voters vote for Trump than registered as republicans. Lastly the independent party represented by Gary Johnson only turn out about a third of its registered voters in Oklahoma.

Online Voter Registration in Oklahoma

Online voter registration is the voter ability to register online for elections. This online tool grants voters another option other than mailing their registration or physically visiting a government agency to fill out paperwork for hours. While this feature is not yet available to Oklahoma residents, it has been undergoing construction for the past two years.

Senate Bill 313, a bill proposed in Oklahoma for online registration, was passed in 2015 by Governor Mary Fallin. According to ok.gov, “This legislation, which takes effect on November 1, 2015, authorizes the Secretary of the Oklahoma State Election Board to develop a secure online system where a citizen with a current and valid Oklahoma driver license or identification card issued by the Department of Public Safety may submit a voter registration application electronically” (Online Voter Registration). Meaning, this feature is not yet available to Oklahoma citizens, but it is a work in progress.

Once online voter registration is implemented, however, the steps are essentially the same as in paper registration. The same rules will apply for who is eligible.  To use this function, a person must be 18 years of age or older, a U.S. citizen and an Oklahoma resident. One notable difference with online registration, according to Paul Burke of Newsok.com, is a person’s need for a valid Oklahoma driver’s license or ID card, along with registering using the address on the card (Oklahoma voter registration soon will be available online). This feature will hopefully be available to voters in 2017 later this year.

In recent years, voter registration numbers have severely declined. Online registration is an attempt to encourage more voter turnout in later years. According to Ginnie Graham from Tulsaworld.com, from 2000 to 2014, the percentage of eligible voters who did not register increased from 16 percent to 29 percent (Oklahoma voter registration rate declining so reforms under way). These numbers, according to Trevor Brown’s article on Oklahomawatch.org, led to Oklahoma having the lowest voter turnout in the 2014 election year (In Search of Ways to Attract More Oklahoma Voters to the Polls).            

Overall, Oklahoma’s decreasing voter turnout has been a consistent problem over the years, but online voter registration is an attempt to make the process easier than it has been in the past. Once the feature is working and available to the public, voter turnout is hoped to increase.  

How To Vote Absentee

Absentee Ballot Absentee voting is an easy and convenient way to exercise your right to vote as an American citizen. Anyone who is registered in Oklahoma, is able to vote by absentee ballot. You do not need to give a reason behind why you are voting through an absentee ballot. The application ballots must be made in writing or using the Oklahoma state election boards. You can apply for them online through www.Ok.gov and even download the absentee ballot request form, and mail it in. If you are a Uniformed Services Member, spouse, dependent or Overseas Citizen, you do not need to complete these forms. Instead, go to http://www.fvap.gov/ to download and complete the Federal Post Card Application. WARNING!!! Title 26 of the Oklahoma Statues says that any person who creates a fake application for an absentee ballot will be charged with a felony! If you are deemed guilty of this felony under the provisions of Title 26 will be demitted for the State Penitentiary for no more than five (5) years, if found guilty. You may also be fined fifty thousand dollars, ($50,000), or both.

How To Vote In Oklahoma

To vote in the State of Oklahoma, you must be registered to vote. Here are some frequently asked questions about voting and what to do if your address changes or your card gets lost and/or stolen.

1. How do I register to vote in Oklahoma?

Just complete a voter registration form and send it in. You can get the application at http://www.ok.gov/elections/Voter_Info/Register_to_Vote/index.html. You can also get the form at most post offices and public libraries, or you can complete one at County Election Board at http://www.ok.gov/elections/documents/cebinfo.pdf offices and tag agencies as well.

2. How do I change my name, address or political affiliation on my voter registration?

To make any changes to your voter registration, send in a new voter registration application. Get the application http://www.ok.gov/elections/Voter_Info/Register_to_Vote/index.html. You cannot make changes in your voter registration online or by telephone. Therefore, you must be able to print the application off (or pick it up) and sent it in via mail. Any other ways will not work.

3. I lost my Voter ID card. How do I get a replacement?

Request a replacement Voter ID card from the County Election Board at http://www.ok.gov/elections/documents/cebinfo.pdf in the county where you are registered to vote. The next step after that is the easiest of them all. Actual voting takes place on regular and special election days. Polling places are open from 7 AM until 7 PM. However, these hours are different if you are participating in early voting. Early voting is a way for people to vote “early” if they cannot vote on the day of the actual election. You can vote at the County Election Board office in the county where you are registered to vote from 8 AM to 6 PM on Thursday and Friday before all elections. For state and federal elections only, you also can vote from 9 AM until 2 PM on Saturday before the election.