How to vote

With the 2016 presidential campaign heating up, it’s time to start thinking about voting in the presidential election – or in any of the other upcoming elections between now and then, including a special election on Sept. 8. On that date, those who live in State House District 85 will vote for state representative between Chip Carter and Cyndi Munson.

Here’s a quick primer on voting in Oklahoma:

• First, you have to register. You can do this by downloading a form online and mailing it in or by going to your county’s election board office, a tag agency, a post office, a public library or another designated public location. After Nov. 1, voters will be able to submit the form online, thanks to a new state law. For the Nov. 10 general election, registration deadline is Oct. 16. Find out additional registration deadlines on this election calendar.
• Once you’ve registered, you’ll get a voter ID card that you’ll need to show when you go to your precinct to vote. If you’ve already registered and are in the Oklahoma State Election Board system, find your precinct using your name and birth date here. Or get additional help here.
• And then you vote. Statewide, polls are open at individual precincts from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on election days. Find your precinct. But you can vote early -- Request an absentee ballot in writing or through your individual county’s election board, or go in person to your county election board and participate in early voting, usually from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the Thursday and Friday before the election. Check the election calendar for specifics. In Oklahoma County, the address is 4201 N Lincoln Blvd.

The Oklahoma State Election Board’s website is a good resource.

Note that even if you have a mailing address from one of our suburbs, you still might be eligible to vote in Oklahoma City – if you pay utilities to the City of OKC. Also, here are the numbers to surrounding-area local election boards (with their county seats in parentheses) if you still have questions:

• Canadian County (El Reno) 405-422-2422
• Cleveland County (Norman) 405-366-0210
• Oklahoma County (Oklahoma City) 405-713-1515
• Pottawatomie County (Shawnee) 405-273-8376