As a refresher, a primary election, like the one on June 30th, is an election where voters choose who they want in their party for a general election race, and it can also feature things like state questions  which are direct issues that voters weigh in on.  In the same way that Democrats and Republicans get to pick “their” candidates to run in the general election for president, local and state positions are elected by their party members in the same way. This election has both primary voting for elected officials, specific to each part of Oklahoma, as well as a direct citizen vote, or ballot initiative, of State Question 802. It’s also happening during a really interesting time, so are some tips to get out the vote safely!

Voting during a pandemic- What’s that like? A lot of us are questioning how this election might increase the risk of spreading Coronavirus, or worry that the pandemic could be politicized to sway the vote. Critics have shown concern that some policy makers have intentionally made voting more difficult during the Coronavirus pandemic. Many believe these actions will significantly lower voter turnout, and the results may not represent the community.  

Oklahomans will be able to vote by mail (woo hoo!) and in person.

• When voting in person: Know that election boards are quickly adopting new cleaning and social distancing procedures for polling stations across Oklahoma. Even though these new procedures require more people to run polling stations, fewer people are volunteering to help. If that winds up happening, it is likely that counties have no choice but to close polling locations  which will force remaining locations to serve more people while trying to maintain social distancing and cleaning procedures. (Check your polling location, or sign up to help out at the polls on election day). 

  

   

• When voting early: You can vote in person ahead of June 30th. Early voting is available across Oklahoma from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday, June 25 and Friday, June 26, and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 27. Counties decide the number of early voting locations and where they are, so be sure to check with your county’s election board. Some counties, like Tulsa, have closed early voting locations and are warning of large crowds due to the change and necessary cleaning precautions.

   

• When voting by mail:  When you vote by mail you are called an Absentee voter because you are “absent” from the poll sites. Rather than going to the polls, absentee voters receive their ballot in the mail and send it back to be counted. In Oklahoma, any voter can sign up to vote absentee. You’ve either got to get a notary to sign off on your ballot, or you need to send in a photocopy of your accepted voter ID in with your ballot. You can rest assured that absentee voting is the most effective way to reduce the risk to yourself and others. In Oklahoma, voters can request an absentee ballot with no reason needed. The deadline to request your absentee ballot it June 23, 2020. Don’t forget: you ballot needs 2 first class stamps!

What about all the notary drama?  In May, the Oklahoma Supreme Court struck down the mandate that all absentee ballots had to be notarized. Within a week, the legislature and governor approved a new law that brought the requirement back. When the capitol passed the new notary requirement, they included a section that allows voters to use a copy of their voter ID instead of a notary for this election. A copy of any accepted voter ID is allowed. This is not a permanent change, but thankfully, this law won’t change again before the June 30th election.