Voter Guide

WHO MAY REGISTER?  You must be a U.S. citizen 18 years of age or older, a resident of Oklahoma and the precinct in which you ask to be registered.  When registering, you may list a particular party (Democratic or Republican, for example) or none (Independent).  This choice affects only whether or not you can vote in state or national primary elections.

WHERE DO I REGISTER?  You can apply to become a registered voter by completing an Oklahoma Registration Application form at the Payne County Election Board (County Administration Bldg., 315 West 6th, Stillwater), a Tag Agency, Department of Human Services, Health Services, or Rehabilitative Services.  Also state and federal application forms may be filled out and mailed to the State Election Board.  These forms are available from libraries, the U.S. Postal Service, and the above agencies.

WHEN DO I REGISTER?  You may register in person at the County Election Board office or any designated agency on any business day during business hours, or the application forms may be mailed in to the State Election Board.  Forms must be received or postmarked at least 24 days before an election in order to be eligible to vote in that election.

WHERE DO I VOTE?  Your Voter Registration Card lists the precinct in which you vote and the precinct location.  Precinct locations are available HERE.  The local newspaper lists voting locations just before an election.   You can call Payne County Election Board for information at 405-747-8350.  You will have to present your  Voter Registration card or a valid Voter Identification card to be able to vote.  However, if for some reason your name does not appear on the roll book, your registration card secures your right to vote.

WHAT DO I NEED TO BRING?  The voters in November, 2010 approved a law,  that each voter must present an approved form of voter ID at the time of voting.  These are:

a. Voter Id from the county election board (no photo);

b. State ID with photo and expiration date; no expiration for those 65 and older;

c. Oklahoma Driver's License with photo and expiration date;

d. U.S. Passport with photo and expiration date;

e. Military ID with photo;

f. any other Oklahoma or U.S. document or one issued by a federally recognized tribal government with photo and expiration date or

g. temporary  ID issued by county election board with no photo and a 30 day expiration date.

FOR WHOM CAN I VOTE?  In primary elections, or runoff primary elections, you can vote only for the candidates of the party under which you are registered.  You may vote in the general election for candidates of any party.  In Stillwater, school board members and city officials are nominated and elected on nonpartisan ballots, and you may vote in these elections regardless of your party affiliation.

HOW DO I CHANGE MY REGISTRATION?  If you move from one precinct to another, or change your name or your address, you may change your registration at the County Election Board or by filling in and mailing an Oklahoma Registration Application Form available from a designated agency or by asking the Precinct Inspector for one at the time you vote.  You may change your party affiliation in the same way before June 1st and after the August runoff party primary.

HOW DO I CAST MY BALLOT?  Polling places are open from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM.   To vote, present yourself to a Precinct Judge, sign the registration book the way you signed your registration card, get ballot(s) from the Precinct Clerk, go into voting booth, mark the ballot with the pen provided, and place ballot(s) into voting machine.  If you have a problem in marking your ballot, see the inspector of the precinct.  If needed, change your registration with the Precinct Inspector.

HOW DO I VOTE ABSENTEE?  Anyone may vote absentee without stating a reason.  You may vote an absentee ballot in person at the County Election Board office from 9AM to 5PM on the Thursday, Friday, or Monday preceding a statewide election, or the Monday preceding a special, school, or a city election.  Application forms are available from the County Election Board to vote absentee by mail.  You may also write to the County Election Board to obtain this form by giving them the following information: your name, date of birth, address at which you are registered, the election(s) for which you are requesting ballots, the address to which the ballot should be mailed, and your signature.  The voter may designate which elections or all elections during each calendar year for which absentee ballots are needed.  After the ballot is marked the envelope must be signed before a notary public.  Mailed ballots must be received by 7PM on Election Day.