Okmulgee County voters will head to the polls on Tuesday, Feb. 12 for the Morris, Checotah, Haskell and Weleetka Public Schools Board of Education Primary Election and the City of Okmulgee Primary Municipal Election, Ashley Carnes, Okmulgee County Election Board Secretary said.

Everyone is encouraged to keep the following information and tips in mind as the election approaches:

• Early voting will be available at the Okmulgee County Election Board office in the Okmulgee County Courthouse on Thursday, Feb. 7 and Friday, Feb. 8 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

• Polls will be open on Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Anyone in line to vote at 7 p.m. will be allowed to cast a ballot.

• Anyone who needs to look up their polling place, verify their registration information or view a sample ballot can do so online. The Online Voter Tool can be accessed on the Oklahoma State Election Board’s website at: www.elections.ok.gov.Those who vote by mail can also check the status of their ballot using the Online Voter Tool. Sample ballots are also available at the county election board office.

• Oklahoma law requires every voter who votes in person at the precinct polling place or during early voting at the county election board to show proof of identity before receiving a ballot. There are three ways for voters to prove their identity including: Show a valid photo ID issued by federal, state or tribal government; or show the free voter identification card issued to every voter by the county election board or sign an affidavit and vote a provisional ballot. If the information on the affidavit matches official voter registration records, the ballot will be counted after election day.

• Physically disabled voters who cannot enter the polling place, need help marking thier ballots, blind or visually disabled voters and illiterate voters may be assisted by a person the voter chooses. In all cases, a person providing such assistance may not be the voter’s providing assistance also must swear or affirm that the voter’s ballots will be marked in accordance with the voter’s wishes. Alternatively, all blind, visually impaired and physically disabled voters in Okmulgee County may use the audio-tactile interface (ATI), a feature offered on all Oklahoma voting devices, to vote privately and independently, either at the Okmulgee County Election Board during early voting or at their assigned polling place on election day.

• Voters who have moved since the last election, but who have not transferred their voter registration to their new address, may do so on election day by going to vote at the polling place where their registration has been in the past. While voting, they may fill out a form instructing the county election board to transfer their registration to the new address before the next election.

• Those who became physically incapacitated after 5 p.m. on Feb. 5 still can request an emergency absentee ballot. Those who might qualify for an emergency absentee ballot should contact the election board at 918-756-2365 as soon as possible for more information.

• Any violation of election law will be reqported to the proper law enforcement authorities. Electioneering is not allowed within 300 feet of a ballot box. It is also unlawful to remove a ballot from the polling location, possess intoxicating liquors within half a mile of a polling place or to disclose how you voted while within the election enclosure.

For additional election-related information, visit: www.elections.ok.gov.