Oklahoma House Bill HB1515

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/3/25
• Refer: 2/4/25

Caption

Elections; absentee ballots; statement; single election ballot per application; effective date.

Summary

HB1515 would change Oklahoma’s absentee ballot application process. It requires registered voters applying for an absentee ballot to submit a statement explaining why they cannot vote in person on election day, specifically citing work, school, or travel, and makes failure to submit that statement grounds for denial of the application. The bill also requires voters requesting an absentee ballot to indicate the election date for which the ballot is requested, and limits the application to elections held on that date for which the voter is eligible. The bill also tightens identity-matching requirements for absentee ballot applications submitted electronically, by mail, in person, or by fax. Applicants must provide a name, birth date, and identification number that match the voter registration record, with limited exceptions if the voter’s record lacks a birth date or identification number. The measure preserves existing procedures for voters who do not remember which identification number they used, and it continues to allow applications by electronic communication, mail, fax, or in person under rules set by the Secretary of the State Election Board. The bill is set to take effect November 1, 2025.

Impact

HB1515 would amend 26 O.S. Section 14-105 and create a new codified section in Title 26 governing absentee ballot requests. Its practical effect is to add documentation and election-specific limits to absentee voting, while also reinforcing voter verification requirements for absentee ballot applications. County election boards and the State Election Board would be responsible for administering the new statement and date-selection requirements, and voters seeking absentee ballots would face a more restrictive application process.

Sentiment

The available voting history suggests the bill was controversial and faced resistance in committee. It passed the House Elections and Ethics Committee 4-3 after amendment, but then failed to advance in the House Government Oversight Committee on a 6-10 vote. That pattern indicates support among some members for tightening absentee ballot procedures, but broader concern or opposition prevented the bill from moving forward.

Contention

The main points of contention appear to be the added burden on absentee voters and the stricter eligibility/verification rules. Supporters likely viewed the bill as a way to improve election integrity by requiring a stated reason for absentee voting, tying each application to a specific election date, and ensuring identity information matches registration records. Opponents likely objected to the new statement requirement, the denial of applications for missing information, and the narrower treatment of absentee voting as potentially making it harder for eligible voters to obtain ballots. The committee votes show the issue divided lawmakers, with no transcript available to identify individual arguments.