Absentee Applications Now Available

Eligible voters wanting absentee ballots mailed to them for the upcoming general and special election Nov. 10 should apply now.

County election board Secretary Patty Bryant said absentee ballot applications will be accepted until 5 p.m. Nov. 4.

Forms are available at the county election board offices, 555 N. Denver. Also, a letter may be mailed or faxed requesting a ballot, or a form letter may be downloaded from the election board web site: (www.tulsacounty.org, choose the Government tab, choose BOCC Divisions, and click Election Board).

"At least two mail transactions must be made," Bryant said.  "The County Election Board must mail the ballots to the voter, and the voter must return the voted ballots by mail."

Ballots must be in the hands of the election board by 7 p.m. on election day in order to be counted.

Bryant said that any registered voter may vote by absentee ballot in any election in which he or she is eligible to vote.  However, a voter must be registered and reside at an address within the geographical boundaries of the district to be eligible to vote.

It is not necessary to give a reason for absentee voting.

"While anyone can vote absentee without giving a reason, the law still provides several excuses and it is to the advantage of some voters to use one of them," Bryant said.

By stating one of the following reasons on their application, these voters can activate some special conditions that make it easier for them to use absentee ballots.  The reasons are:

- Voters who are physically incapacitated and voters who care for physically incapacitated persons who cannot be left unattended may vote absentee. They may apply only by mail, by fax, or by telegraph.

- Voters who are confined to nursing homes in the county may vote absentee.  An Absentee Voting Board actually goes to the nursing home a few days before the election, sets up a small     polling place and allows these persons to vote under     circumstances similar to those at a regular precinct polling     place.  They may apply only by mail or by fax.

- Military personnel and residents of the county living overseas and the spouses and dependents of each group are eligible to vote absentee without being registered.  These voters may apply only by mail or by fax.  Military personnel should contact the Voting Service Officers in their units for application forms and additional     information.

- Residents of Oklahoma living overseas can obtain the same materials from any United States military installation and from United States Embassies and Consulates.  Military personnel and overseas citizens also can download and print an application form from the Internet at www.fvap.gov.

Bryant said that persons wishing to fax their absentee ballot request should fax to (918) 596-4536.  For questions or concerns regarding absentee voting in Tulsa County, contact the Tulsa County Election Board Absentee Department at (918)596-5767 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. or after hours contact the absentee voice mailbox at (918)596-8833.  

Bryant said in-person absentee voting will also be available at the election board office Nov. 6 and Nov. 9, from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.  For additional information regarding early in-person absentee voting, please contact the election board's Absentee Department at (918)596-5767.