From staff reports Comanche County voters who want an absentee ballot mailed to them for Lawton’s Nov. 18 runoff election should apply now, Comanche County Election Board Secretary Amy Sims said in a news release.
The deadline to request an absentee ballot is 5 p.m. Nov. 3.
Voters may submit their request using the OK Voter Portal at oklahoma. gov/elections/ovp. Request forms are also available at oklahoma.gov/elections and at the election board office, 315 SW Fifth St., Room 206, in Lawton.
Voters should allow enough time for their absentee ballot to be received, completed and returned by mail to the election board, Sims said.
“With some exceptions, all absentee ballot affidavits must be notarized before being returned,” she said. “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.”
Voters who are exempt from having an absentee ballot notarized include:
• Physically incapacitated voters.
• Voters who care for physically incapacitated people who cannot be left alone.
Voters who request a “physically incapacitated” ballot must have the signature on their affidavit witnessed by two people.
Soldiers and residents living overseas, along with their spouses and dependents, are eligible for certain allowances, according to the news release. Military personnel should contact the voting services officer in their unit for an absentee ballot application.
Residents living overseas may obtain an application from any U.S. military installation, embassy or consulate.
Soldiers and overseas citizens who are already registered voters in Oklahoma may apply for absentee ballots using the OK Voter Portal, according to the news release. 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 returned to the election board no later than 7 p.m. the day of the election.