With the June 16 election approaching, Comanche County Election Board officials are reminding voters of Election Day laws.
Here’s a summary of those laws:
•People allowed inside an election enclosure. It is a crime for anyone other than voters and election officials to remain within 50 feet of a ballot box during an election. Additionally, it is illegal for anyone other than election officials and voters to be inside the election enclosure where voters are checked in, issued ballots and vote.
The law is not intended to include minor children who accompany voters to their voting location.
A news reporter or photographer may, while covering the election, be allowed inside the enclosure for no more than five minutes. The reporter or photographer shall not interfere with voters or election officials and shall neither observe any individual voter while the voter marks a ballot nor photograph any voter marking a ballot.
•Illegal voting. It is a crime to vote more than once in any election, vote in a precinct after transferring your voter registration to a new precinct or vote knowing that you are not eligible. It is also unlawful to vote and submit an absentee ballot that was issued to another person.
•Electioneering. Electioneering is advocating for or against a candidate or issue that is on the ballot. It is a crime to electioneer within 300 feet of the entrance of a polling place or the last person in line at the entrance while an election is in progress.
Electioneering can be verbal, or it can include displaying items such as signs, pamphlets, T-shirts, buttons or hats. If voters are unsure whether their clothing or accessories would constitute an election crime, they should leave those items at home.
•Printed material. No printed material, other than items provided by the election board, shall be publicly placed or exposed within 300 feet of a ballot box during an election. Voters may, however, bring personal notes to assist them with their election choices while they are marking their ballot.
Personal notes must remain concealed at all other times while inside the enclosure.
•Photographing and disclosing votes. A voter may take a digital image or photo of their marked ballot while inside the enclosure. However, it is illegal for voters to post the image or photo on social media or otherwise distribute or disclose how they voted until they have left the enclosure.
•Election interference. It is a misdemeanor to interfere with the orderly and lawful conduct of an election.
No one, including a lawfully appointed watcher or exit pollster, may interfere with a registered voter who is attempting to vote or attempt to influence a person’s vote through force or intimidation. This includes activity before and during an election.
•Pollsters. An exit pollster receives an official commission from the county election board secretary to conduct polls or interviews of voters leaving the polling place. Pollsters are not permitted with 50 feet or any ballot box while an election is in progress, and they shall be limited to written polling materials.
Anyone conducting an exit poll within 300 feet of any ballot box shall display identification provided by the election board secretary. Voters are not required to participate in exit polls.
•Intoxication. It is illegal to take intoxicating liquor of any kind or quantity to within one-half mile of any polling place on an election day. Additionally, no person shall attend an election or be within 300 feet of a polling place in an intoxicated condition on an election day.
•Reporting potential crimes. Voters who believe an election-related crime is being committed should contact their county election board or local law enforcement agency while the act is in progress, or as soon as possible. Be prepared to provide as much information and documentation as possible.
For more information or to report a potential violation of election law, contact the Comanche County Election Board at (580) 353-1880 or comanchecounty@elections.ok.gov.