Deadline for Oklahomans to register, update voter information nears

OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahomans looking to cast their ballot in the Aug. 25 partisan primary runoff election have until the end of the month to register to vote or update their voter registration, though they cannot change their party affiliation.

Changes to a resident’s voter registration, like name or address changes, can be made as long as the registration is received or postmarked by the July 31 deadline.

Voters can update their registration online through the state’s voter portal with an up-to-date driver’s license or state ID or by completing an application in person at their local county election board. Applications are also available at many tag agencies, post offices and public libraries.

In the Aug. 25 runoff, voters can only cast ballots in nonpartisan contests or for candidates of their registered party. 

Voters can apply to change their party, but county election boards cannot begin processing the change until after Aug. 31, according to state law. The party existing voters selected remains their designation for the duration of the primary runoff cycle.

Registered Republicans will see four statewide races on their ballots, including contests to be the party’s candidate for governor, state superintendent, labor commissioner and insurance commissioner. Democrats will decide who their nominee will be in the U.S. Senate race to fill the seat vacated by Republican Markwayne Mullin. Mullin resigned earlier this year to serve in President Donald Trump’s administration as the head of the Department of Homeland Security. 

There will also be various state House and Senate runoffs on the ballot, as well as county and local elections.

All voters, regardless of party registration, can cast ballots on the two nonpartisan state questions on the August ballot. 

State Question 844 proposes allowing the Legislature to set reimbursement rates for local public entities that lose revenue from the state’s manufacturing property tax exemption. State Question 846 would enshrine Oklahoma’s requirement to present voter identification at the polls in the state Constitution, while giving the Legislature the power to outline what is considered voter identification.