SB 654 would revise Oklahoma’s absentee-ballot anti-harvesting law and add new restrictions focused on notaries. The bill expands the statutory definition of “absentee ballot harvesting” to cover a broader range of conduct, including collecting or returning another person’s ballot, obtaining a ballot under false pretenses, requesting a ballot on another person’s behalf, distributing absentee ballot applications using a candidate’s or elected official’s official letterhead, completing an absentee ballot application without prior consent, and notarizing or witnessing more absentee ballots than allowed by law. It keeps existing exceptions for lawful voter assistance, certain nursing-home and veterans-home assistance, military and overseas voter assistance, close family members and cohabitants, a spouse returning a ballot with consent, and official election activity.
The bill also amends the notary public statute to prohibit notaries and their agents from requesting, assisting with requests for, receiving by mail, or submitting absentee ballots for other voters, except for themselves or household members in limited circumstances. It requires notaries to keep a two-year log of absentee ballot affidavits they notarize and limits a notary to 20 absentee ballot affidavits per election unless the county election board secretary gives written approval, with an exception for notarizations performed at a notary’s public place of business during normal business hours. In addition, if more than 10 absentee ballots are requested to be mailed to one address, the county election board secretary must notify the district attorney and State Election Board, triggering an investigation unless the address is a nursing home, veterans center, medical facility, multiunit housing, certain military installations, or another location authorized by the State Election Board.
As a matter of state law, SB 654 would further tighten Oklahoma’s absentee voting rules and create a misdemeanor penalty for a notary public who knowingly and intentionally violates the new restrictions. It would affect county election boards, the State Election Board, district attorneys, law enforcement, notaries public, voters who use absentee ballots, and organizations or individuals involved in ballot collection or assistance. The bill is set to take effect November 1, 2025.
The available legislative history shows no recorded committee transcript or vote data, so there is little direct evidence of debate or bipartisan support in the materials provided. The bill’s caption and structure suggest a focus on election integrity and enforcement, and the inclusion of criminal penalties and reporting requirements indicates a more restrictive approach to absentee-ballot handling. Likely points of concern are the expanded definition of prohibited conduct and the new oversight burden on notaries and election officials, while the explicit exceptions for family assistance, military voters, and certain facilities appear designed to preserve commonly accepted forms of ballot help.
SB 654 would amend 26 O.S. 2021, Sections 14-101.1 and 14-108.1, broadening the state’s absentee-ballot harvesting prohibitions and imposing new duties and limits on notaries public. It creates a misdemeanor offense for knowing and intentional violations, requires notary recordkeeping, caps notarizations of absentee ballot affidavits, and establishes a mandatory referral process when multiple absentee ballots are sent to one address, with specified exceptions for institutional and military settings.
The bill appears to be framed as an election-integrity measure, with its text emphasizing restrictions, reporting, and criminal enforcement. Because there are no committee transcripts or votes included, the record does not show explicit support or opposition from legislators, but the bill’s design suggests a generally cautious or restrictive posture toward absentee-ballot handling. The built-in exceptions for family members, caregivers, and military-related assistance indicate an effort to balance enforcement with permitted voter help.
The main points of contention are likely to be the breadth of the new absentee-ballot harvesting definition and the added responsibilities placed on notaries and election officials. Critics may view the bill as potentially burdening legitimate voter assistance or creating confusion around what conduct is prohibited, while supporters would likely argue that the expanded rules are needed to deter abuse and improve ballot security. The notification trigger for more than ten ballots to one address could also be controversial, though the bill exempts nursing homes, veterans centers, medical facilities, multiunit housing, and certain military locations to reduce unintended impacts.