In-person absentee voting; modifying time for in-person absentee voting. Effective date.
Summary
SB 1362 revises Oklahoma’s in-person absentee voting rules. The bill changes the time windows for when a registered voter may apply for an in-person absentee ballot, including a Thursday-through-Saturday period before most elections, a Saturday-only period before general, primary, runoff primary, and presidential preferential primary elections, and a Wednesday period before general elections. It also updates the statutory language governing the application process, voter certification, ballot handling, and contingency procedures for equipment failure.
The bill keeps the core in-person absentee process in place: voters must swear they have not voted a regular mail absentee ballot and will not vote at their precinct, provide proof of identity or sign an oath and cast a provisional ballot if they cannot, and vote under procedures designed to preserve ballot secrecy. It also preserves the use of absentee voting boards, ballot transfer cases, sheriff custody of sealed materials, and recount procedures if electronic storage media malfunctions. The act is set to take effect January 1, 2027.
Impact
SB 1362 amends 26 O.S. 2021, Section 14-115.4, which governs in-person absentee ballots, and would alter election administration practices for county election boards and absentee voting boards statewide. The bill expands and clarifies the election types and days on which in-person absentee voting is available, while maintaining identity verification, provisional ballot, chain-of-custody, and equipment-failure safeguards. Counties with larger populations or geographic areas may still designate multiple in-person absentee voting locations with state approval.
Sentiment
The available voting history suggests generally favorable support for the bill, with the Senate Judiciary Committee advancing it unanimously 8-0 and the full Senate passing it 36-9. The committee record does not show extended debate on the voting-rule changes themselves, but the floor vote indicates some opposition remained. Overall, the bill appears to have been viewed as a procedural election administration measure rather than a highly contentious policy change.
Contention
The main points of potential contention are the revised timing and scope of in-person absentee voting, which could affect voter access and election administration workload. Supporters likely view the bill as a modernization and clarification of voting procedures, while opponents may be concerned about changes to election-day access, administrative complexity, or the security of absentee voting processes. The bill’s retention of oath requirements, provisional ballot rules, and sheriff-secured ballot handling suggests an effort to balance access with election integrity.
Absentee ballots; establishing alternative procedures for execution of absentee ballot affidavits; requiring opportunity to cure defective application or affidavit. Effective date.
Elections; directing for ballots to be printed in advance of election; hours for voting; clarifying applicability to county election board; directing voter appear at assigned polling place; prohibiting voting centers; effective date; emergency.