Voters in Okmulgee County who want absentee ballots mailed to them for elections in 2024 should apply now, County Election Board Secretary Ashley Carnes said.

Any registered voter may request absentee ballots for a specific election or for a full calendar year. No excuse is needed to vote by absentee ballot. Carnes said there are many ways to apply.

“For many voters, the easiest way to apply is online through the State Election Board’s OK Voter Portal. Voters can also fill out an application at the County Election Board or simply write us a letter.”

If you choose to write a letter, it must contain the following information:

• Your name, resident address, and signature • ID number that matches ID number on file (i.e. driver’s license number, last four digits of Social Security number)

• Name of the school district in which you reside

• Name of your city (if you reside inside city limits)

• Address where you want your ballots mailed

• Type of election

• List of elections for which you are requesting absentee ballots (you may only request ballots for elections in which you are eligible to vote) Carnes said some voters may need to confirm their address before submitting an absentee ballot application.

Voters who are confined to a nursing home or veteran’s center, voters who are physically incapacitated, or voters who care for physically incapacitated persons who cannot be left alone should mention these restrictions in their request. This information activates special procedures that make voting and returning absentee ballots easier.

Voters can request absentee ballots electronically using the OK Voter Portal at oklahoma. gov/elections/ovp. To download a paper application, visit the State Election Board website at oklahoma.gov/elections. Applications are also available at your County Election Board.

For more information on absentee voting, contact the Okmulgee County Election Board at 918-756-2365 or Okmulgee-County@elections.ok.gov.