Fallin Signs Absentee Ballot Access Measure

Legislation signed by Governor Fallin will help individuals who are not physically able to travel to the county election board send a person in their place to make an application for an absentee ballot.

Senate Bill 276, by Senator Randy Bass and Rep. Joe Dorman, requires the person sent to make an application for an absentee ballot to be at least 16 years of age and only do so for one voter. It took immediate effect upon being signed into law.

“I have had constituents who have talked to us about problems elderly and disabled Oklahomans have had with voting and I wanted to improve the absentee ballot application process for them to ensure their vote is counted,” said Bass, D-Lawton. “This bill limits a single individual to one absentee ballot application on behalf of another person to make sure it is not a vehicle for voter fraud. I was pleased to see it signed into law.”

“We had an primary election in 2012 with very low turnout in some Western Oklahoma districts and I want to ensure that low turnout isn’t made worse because certain members of the community are unable to get out to vote,” said Dorman, D-Rush Springs. “This legislation improves the absentee ballot application process so that individuals who are confined to their home for one reason or another can still have their vote counted.”

Judge Says Stiles-Roberts House Race Decision Due Tuesday

Cleveland County District Judge Tracy Schumacher on Friday postponed a ruling in a lawsuit challenging the results of an Oklahoma House race where the incumbent, Rep. Aaron Stiles, won by just 16 votes.

She gave both sides until Tuesday morning to file any additional trial briefs and indicated she would rule by the end of that day.

Friday was the second day of testimony following Democrat Paula Roberts’ petition alleging that 10 different irregularities make it “impossible to determine with mathematical certainty which candidate is entitled to a certificate of election.”

Among Roberts’ allegations are that ineligible voters were allowed to cast ballots while some valid registered voters were not. Roberts also alleges that absentee ballots were improperly secured and that mistakes were made with provisional ballots and voting machines, among other complaints.

Roberts’ attorney wants the court to count the provisional ballots that she claims were improperly excluded. But Schumacher has said state law does not give her the authority to order the ballots counted.

Election Board officials have acknowledged the office made mistakes during the general election. A box containing 60 absentee ballots was discovered two days after the election, but the House race’s original 18-vote margin remained unchanged after those ballots were counted. A recount showed Stiles had won by 16 votes.

Roberts Challenges Stiles, Wants HD45 Recount

The Oklahoman

A petition seeking a recount, along with allegations of irregularities in the  House District 45 race, were filed Friday by the Democratic challenger.

Meanwhile, Cleveland County election officials determined no change occurred  in the Republican incumbent’s margin of victory after tabulating ballots not  counted in Tuesday’s election.

After counting absentee ballots that were discovered Thursday night and 24 of  about 70 provisional ballots that were cast Tuesday, election board officials  determined unofficial final results showed Rep. Aaron Stiles still won by 18  votes.

Paula Roberts listed 10 allegations in papers filed with the state Election  Board claiming that ineligible voters cast ballots in her race and registered  voters in the Norman district were not allowed to vote.

Roberts, who served 22 years as Cleveland County Election Board secretary  before retiring last year, also said absentee ballots were not counted when they  should have been, including 60 that were discovered Thursday.

Read more: http://newsok.com/recount-is-sought-in-norman-house-district-race/article/3727014#ixzz2Bn4LmNai

Marlatt Tops Election Day Voting Percentage

Senator Marlatt

Jerry Bohnen
Contributing Editor

The voters of northwest Oklahoma must think Republican Senator Bryce Marlatt is doing a good job in the Legislature because they gave him 84% of the votes cast in the District 27 race.  It was the highest percentage of support for any of the legislative races decided on Tuesday.

Romney Takes Huge Lead, All State Questions Leading

Mitt Romney neared 70 percent in absentee and early voting results.

All state questions won approval by huge margins among the early voters and those who cast absentee ballots.

In the 2nd District, Republican Markwayne Mullin appears headed to a significant victory over Democrat Rob Wallace.

Ziriax: Delay In National Election Unlikely

Jerry Bohnen
Contributing Editor

While some wonder how the disaster caused by Hurricane Sandy on the east coast will affect voting in the Presidential election, Paul Ziriax, the Oklahoma Election Board secretary, says no one federal agency will be able to delay the national election.

“The administration of the elections falls to the states,” Ziriax told The McCarville Report.  “And I’m not sure the federal agencies would have any authority to delay the election in Oklahoma.”

He notes that Congress has the authority to set the election date.  “Absent congress changing the date, no one can change the date in Oklahoma or other states.”

Voting along the east coast, domain of blue states that support President Obama, has already been affected. And some fear polling precincts could be without electrical power one week from today.

The President and Republican challenger Mitt Romney have already canceled some of their campaign appearances because of the deadly storm. There has been discussion whether some voting could be postponed or delayed. But Ziriax says it’s up to the individual states.

“It’s on a state-by-state basis and really depends on the statutes in each state,” he explained.  “Elections are run by the states.”

Ziriax suggested it would take a monumental natural disaster to cause any delay in an Oklahoma statewide election. That’s not to say some local elections have not been affected.  In February 2011 when 18 inches of snow fell in northeast Oklahoma, local school elections in Tulsa were impacted.  Some precinct polling places were moved to the Tulsa State fairgrounds so streets could be cleared of snow and voters could have access to the voting booths.

“At this point,” said Ziriax, “our focus is on Oklahoma and we’re moving forward with no plans to change anything.” Title 26 of the State Constitution provides for election emergencies in participating counties.  Wildfires have also forced workers to move voting places in some counties in the past.

“But there’s not anything that allows for an election to be delayed,”added the Secretary of the Election Board. “And I haven’t heard any serious discussion of delaying the election.”

Wednesday at 5 p.m. is the deadline for those wanting to vote by absentee ballot to make their request through their local election board.  And figures will be released Thursday on final voter registration in the state.

“We’ve seen a big increase in absentee voting,” Ziriax said.  “Definitely, this is happening nationally too.”

Oklahoma has a total of 2,000,610 registered voters as of January of this year.  Democrats totaled 943,283 while there are 828,257 Republicans and 229,070 registered independent voters.  Early voting begins Friday at the county election boards.

Absentee Deadline Is Tomorrow

Oklahoma Republican Party

The deadline to request an Absentee Ballot for the November 6th General Election is 5:00 pm tomorrow, October 31st. You can get an application online here. The application must be received at your County Election Board by 5:00 pm. For a list of County Election Board offices (including fax number) can be found here.

31,653 Vote By Absentee So Far

State Election Board

Nearly 32,000 Oklahomans have already cast their ballots for the November 6 General Election. As of 11:00 AM Friday, October 26, County Election Boards have received by mail 31,653 voted absentee ballots from Oklahoma voters.

• County Election Boards have sent a total of 66,010 absentee ballots to Oklahoma voters who requested them. Mail absentee ballots are counted by County Election Boards on Election Day. An absentee ballot must be received by mail by the County Election Board by 7 p.m. on election day to be counted.
• The deadline to request an absentee ballot for the General Election is 5:00 PM on Wednesday, October 31, 2012.

Here is a breakdown of absentee ballots by Party Affiliation:

Updated Absentee Ballot Totals: 53,132 Sent

Paul Ziriax
Secretary, State Election Board

Updated absentee voting data for the November 6 General Election in Oklahoma as of 11:00 AM on Friday, October 19, 2012:

• More than 20,000 Oklahomans have already cast their ballots for the November 6 General Election. (As of 11:00 AM Friday, October 19, County Election Boards have received by mail 20,016 voted absentee ballots from Oklahoma voters.)
• County Election Boards have sent 53,132 absentee ballots to Oklahoma voters who requested them.
• The deadline to request an absentee ballot for the General Election is Wednesday, October 31, 2012.

Here is a breakdown of absentee ballots by Party Affiliation:

Absentee Ballot Total Hits 35,918

State Election Board

County Election Boards have sent 35,918 absentee ballots to Oklahoma voters who requested them.

County Election Boards have received by mail 6,760 voted absentee ballots from Oklahoma voters.

Here is a breakdown of absentee ballots by Party Affiliation: