Voting Resources
Your voice matters. The voting process can be confusing for both new and seasoned voters. The following resources and information are designed to help you navigate the voting process, procedures and help you exercise your civic duty.
How to Vote in Oklahoma
- Check your voter voter registration status.
- Register to vote. Make sure you are aware of voter registration deadlines. If you are not an Oklahoma resident, timelines may differ from local ones. You can also request an absentee ballot if you would rather vote by mail.
- Research. Make a plan of how you will vote (early voting, absentee or in person on Election Day). Research candidates and state questions on the ballot, you may see your sample ballot to prepare and additional information at the Oklahoma State Election Board website.
- Vote. Follow your voting plan and know you have done your civic duty. Repeat this process for each election throughout the year. Additional Oklahoma election information can be found on the Oklahoma State Elections Board Frequently Asked Questions page.
What to know when voting in person. Take proof of identity for voting. Polls are open 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. Stay in line, EVEN if it's after 7 p.m. If you were in line before the closing time, you can still vote.
Absentee Ballot Information
Absentee ballots have to be notarized. UCO has several on campus notaries.
Voters can return their voted absentee ballots to the county election board by U.S. mail or by a private mail service that has delivery documentation. An absentee ballot must be received by the county election board by 7 p.m. Election Day to be counted. First-class postage is required for U.S. mail. Voters who requested a "standard" absentee ballot may hand-deliver their own absentee ballot in-person to the county election board during regular business hours. Hand-delivered ballots must be returned no later than the end of business hours on the day before the election, and the voter must show the same identification required for in-person voting.
Voting FAQ
Are UCO employees given time to vote?
Yes. Faculty and staff receive two hours of Voting Leave per UCO policy.
How long are polls open?
Polls are open 7 a.m.–7 p.m. Check your polling location. Hours are different for early voting.
What if I am still in line when the polls close?
Stay in line even after the polls close. If you are in line before 7 p.m., you are allowed to vote. §26-7-104
Can I wear campaign clothes into the precinct?
No. Keep your campaign clothing at home when you go to the polls. §26-7-108
May I write in a candidate's name on my ballot?
No. Write-in voting is not permitted by law in Oklahoma.
What qualifies as an official ID card to vote?
A document used for proof of identity for voting must have been issued by the United States government, the State of Oklahoma or a federally recognized tribal government.
The law requires a document used for proof of identity for voting to contain the following information:
- The name of the person to whom it was issued;
- A photograph of the person to whom it was issued; and,
- An expiration date that is after the date of the election, unless the identification is valid indefinitely.
The law requires the voter's name on the proof of identity document to "substantially conform" to the voter's name in the precinct registry. In other words, your name on your proof of identity must match your name in the precinct registry.
In addition, voters may use the free voter identification card they received by mail from the County Election Board when they registered to vote. The law allows use of the voter identification card even though it does not include a photograph.
For other frequently asked questions, visit the Oklahoma State Election Board website.