Oklahomans Encouraged To Vote By Mail

There is an easy and convenient way for voters to avoid those long lines when casting their vote this election year -- voting by mail. It allows all registered voters to receive their ballots in their mailbox, usually at least a month before the election.

The Oklahoma State Election board launched a new web page Thursday to educate voters about absentee voting, also known as voting by mail.

"Voting by mail is a convenient way to cast your ballot in Oklahoma without having to worry about lines on Election Day," Oklahoma State Election Board Secretary Paul Ziriax said.

According to officials, all registered voters can vote by mail. Voters can fill out their ballots on their own time, have them notarized and mail them back when they are ready.

Officials said absentee voting is also a great way to make sure you never miss an election. Voters can request to vote by mail for every election in a calendar year. Ballots for each election the voter is eligible to vote in will be mailed to them automatically.

Voters can also track their absentee ballots using the Oklahoma State Election Board's Online Voter Tool.

Although any registered voter can vote by mail, officials said the process is even easier for those with special conditions, such as military voters and those who are physically incapacitated or who care for a physically incapacitated person.

The deadline to apply for an absentee ballot for the Nov. 4 General Election is 5 p.m. Oct. 29.

To learn more about voting by mail or download an application, visit the State Election Board's website and click on the Vote by Mail logo.