FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2020
CONTACT: Sharon Steele, 918-647-3701
Voters in Leflore County who want to have absentee ballots mailed to them for the June 30
Primary Election should apply now, County Election Board Secretary Sharon Steele said today.
Although the County Election Board can accept applications for absentee ballots until 5 p.m. on
Tuesday, June 23, Steele urged voters who want to vote by absentee ballot to apply early.
Absentee ballot application forms are available at the County Election Board office located at
103 N. Church St., Poteau. An online version of the form can be filled out and submitted
electronically at: www.elections.ok.gov. A print form can also be downloaded at that address.
Ballots must be in the hands of County Election Board officials by 7 p.m. on Election Day to
be counted.
Steele said any registered voter may vote by absentee ballot in any election in which he/she is
eligible to vote. However, a voter must be registered and reside at an address within the geographical
boundaries of a school district or a municipality to be eligible to vote in school district or municipal
elections. It is not necessary to give a reason for voting absentee.
"While anyone can vote absentee without giving a reason, the law still provides several
advantages to absentee voters in some categories," Steele said.
By stating one of the following reasons on their applications, absentee voters can activate
special conditions that make it easier for them to use absentee ballots. The reasons are:
- Voters who are physically incapacitated and voters who care for physically
incapacitated persons who cannot be left unattended may vote absentee. They may
apply only by mail, by fax, by email, online or via an agent who is at least 16 years of
age and who is not employed by or related within the third degree of consanguinity or
affinity to any person whose name appears on the ballot.
- Voters who are confined to nursing homes in the county may vote absentee. An
Absentee Voting Board actually goes to the nursing home a few days before the
election, sets up a small polling place and allows these persons to vote under
circumstances similar to those at a regular precinct polling place. They may apply
only by mail, by fax, by email, online or via an agent who is at least 16 years of age
and who is not employed by or related within the third degree of consanguinity or
affinity to any person whose name appears on the ballot.
- Military personnel and residents of the county living overseas and the spouses and
dependents of each group are eligible receive absentee ballots. These voters may
apply only by mail, fax, or by email. Military personnel should contact the Voting
Service Officers in their units for application forms and additional information or visit
the Federal Voting Assistance Program website (www.fvap.gov/oklahoma) for more
information and instructions. Residents of Oklahoma living overseas can obtain the
same materials from any United States military installation and from United States
Embassies and Consulates as well as on the FV AP website.