November 5th General Election Deadlines Approach for Voter Registration and Absentee By-Mail Applications

September 25, 2024

October 11, 2024 is the last day to apply for voter registration in order to be eligible to vote in the November 5th General Election, Custer County Election Board Assistant Secretary, Aleta Bowman, said today.

Bowman said that persons who are United States Citizens, residents of Oklahoma, and at least 17 ½ years old are eligible to apply for voter registration. However, you must be at least 18 years old to vote.

Applications must be received by the County Election Board or postmarked no later than midnight, October 11th. Applications postmarked after that time will be accepted, but will not be processed until after the November 5th Election. Applications may also be submitted to any motor vehicle agency that is also an official voter registration agency by the submission deadline.

Approved voters will receive a Voter Identification Card in the mail. Some may receive a letter that explains the reason or reasons the application was not approved. Bowman said those who do not receive a response within 30 days of submitting their application should contact the County Election Board office immediately.

The Custer County Election Board reminds voters that applications must be approved by the County Election Board Secretary in order to vote.

Registered voters who have moved to Custer County from a different county or state will need to complete a new Voter Registration Application in order to be eligible for elections in Custer County. If you have moved within the county and need to update your address, you may make changes online using the OK Voter Portal at oklahoma.gov/elections/ovp or complete a Voter Registration Application.

Voter Registration Applications can be downloaded from the State Election Board website at oklahoma.gov/elections. You may also complete a form at your County Election Board. Most post offices, tag agencies, and public libraries have applications available upon request.

Voters in Custer County who want absentee ballots mailed to them for the November 5th General Election should apply now. Absentee ballots are available to all registered voters, provided they are eligible to vote in the election requested. No excuse is needed to vote by absentee ballot.

The deadline for requesting an absentee ballot is 5 p.m. Monday, October 21. Voters can submit a request using the OK Voter Portal at oklahoma.gov/elections/ovp. Request forms are also available at oklahoma.gov/elections and at the County Election Board office located at 633 N 6th street, Clinton, OK.

Bowman reminds voters to allow time for an absentee ballot to be received, completed, and returned by mail to the County Election Board. “With some exceptions, all absentee ballot affidavits must be notarized before being returned. Voters should give themselves plenty of time to make sure all steps have been followed and that the ballot is returned on time in order to be counted,” Bowman said.

Voters exempt from having an absentee ballot affidavit notarized include those who are physically incapacitated and those who care for physically incapacitated individuals that cannot be left alone. Voters who request a “physically incapacitated” ballot must have the signature on their absentee ballot affidavit witnessed by two people.

Military personnel and residents living overseas, along with their spouses and dependents are also eligible for certain allowances. Military personnel should contact the Voting Services Officer in their unit for an Absentee Ballot Application. Residents living overseas may obtain Absentee Ballot Applications from any United States military installation or United States Embassy or Consulate. Military personnel and overseas citizens who are already registered voters in Oklahoma may apply for absentee ballots using the OK Voter Portal at oklahoma.gov/elections/ovp. Those who need to complete a new Voter Registration Application should apply through the Federal Voting Assistance Program at FVAP.gov.

All completed absentee ballots must be in the hands of the County Election Board no later than 7 p.m. on Election Day. The Custer County Election Board will also accept hand-delivered ballots any day leading up to election day; however, the ballot must be the voter’s own ballot and accompanied by proper identification. Hand-delivered ballots will not be accepted on Election Day.

The Custer County Election Board is located at 633 N 6th Street, Clinton, Oklahoma and is open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. For questions, please contact the Election Board at 580-323-5124 or custercounty@elections.ok.gov.