In-person absentee voting, also known as early voting, for the Aug. 23 primary runoff election begins Thursday, Aug. 18.
Several statewide races will appear on the ballot in Garvin County. Those include Republican primary runoffs for state treasurer, superintendent of public instruction, labor commissioner, corporation commissioner and U.S. Senator. There is also a Democratic primary runoff race for U.S. Senator on the ballot.
Voters who would like to cast their ballots early may do so at the Garvin County Election Board office from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 18, and Friday, Aug.19, and from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 20. The County Election Board office is in the Garvin County Courthouse, 201 W. Grant Ave., Room 8, in Pauls Valley.
Sample ballots are available at the County Election Board office or online at the Oklahoma State Election Board’s website: www.elections.ok.gov.
Polls will be open election day, Aug. 23, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. for regular in-person voting. Anyone in line to vote at 7 p.m. will be allowed to cast a ballot.
Board Secretary Gayla Dean said voters should also keep the following information and tips in mind as election day approaches.
•Anyone who needs to look up their polling place or verify their registration information can do so online. The Online Voter Tool can be accessed on the Oklahoma State Election Board’s website: www.elections. ok.gov. Those who vote by mail can also check the status of their ballot using the Online Voter Tool.
• Oklahoma law requires every voter who votes in person at the precinct polling place or during early voting at the County Election Board to show proof of identity before receiving a ballot. There are three ways for voters to prove their identity under the law (only one proof of identity is required): Show a valid photo ID issued by federal, state or tribal government; or show the free voter identification card issued to every voter by the County Election Board.
•Physically disabled voters who cannot enter the polling place, need help marking their ballots, blind or visually disabled voters and illiterate voters may be assisted by a person the voter chooses. In all cases, a person providing such assistance may not be the voter’s employer or an agent of the employer or an officer or agent of the voter’s union. A person providing assistance also must swear or affirm that the voter’s ballots will be marked in accordance with the voter’s wishes. Alternatively, all blind, visually impaired and physically disabled voters in Garvin County may use the audio-tactile interface (ATI), a feature offered on all Oklahoma voting devices, to vote privately and independently, either at Garvin County Election Board during early voting or at their assigned polling place on election day.
• Voters who have moved since the last election, but who have not transferred their voter registration to their new address, may do so on election day by going to vote at the polling place where their registration has been in the past. While voting, they may fill out a form instructing the County Election Board to transfer their registration to the new address before the next election.
•Those who became physically incapacitated after 5 p.m. Monday, Aug. 8, can still request an emergency absentee ballot. Those who might qualify for an emergency absentee ballot should contact the County Election Board office at 405-238-3303 as soon as possible for more information.
•Any violation of election law will be reported to the proper law enforcement authorities. Electioneering is not allowed within 300 feet of a ballot box. It is also unlawful to remove a ballot from the polling location, possess intoxicating liquors within half a mile of a polling place or to disclose how you voted while within the election enclosure.
For additional election-related information, visit www.elections.ok.gov.
