The last thing you can vote for

It’s not too late to return your mail-in or absentee ballot in Oklahoma to ensure your vote is counted in Tuesday’s election.

More than 124,000 absentee ballots were mailed to voters before registration closed on Oct. 11. The deadline for all absentee ballots isn’t until Election Day, giving voters another weekend to return ballots to the board of elections.

Here’s what you need to know about when and how to turn in your ballot to have it counted.

When is absentee voting held?

Absentee ballots must be submitted no later than 7:00 pm on Tuesday, November 5th. If hand-delivered, they must be received by close of business on Monday, November 4th.

Do I need a stamp for my mail-in ballot?

Postage is prepaid, so your ballot does not require a stamp.

Can I mail my ballot?

You can mail your ballot, but be sure to pay attention to when it will arrive. If you think it’s getting close to a deadline, other options may be better. The U.S. Postal Service recommends sending absentee ballots by mail at least one week before the due date.

If you mailed in your ballot, you can track its progress on the State Board of Elections website. If your absentee ballot was rejected, you will receive a letter from your county elections office after the election explaining why your ballot was not counted.

Can I deliver my ballot?

You can deliver your absentee ballot to your county election office any day during regular business hours before close of business on the Monday before Election Day. You must show identification to county election officials. An assistant or agent is not authorized to deliver your absentee ballot to you.

What happens to my Oklahoma absentee ballot?

Under Oklahoma election laws, when the Oklahoma County Board of Elections receives absentee ballots, the county clerk of elections must place them in a three-locked ballot box in a secure location..

The county board of elections may meet at 10 a.m. on the Thursday before an election, publicly remove the outer envelopes from all absentee ballots, and place them in the ballot box.

The county board of elections appoints one or two additional absentee voting committees, consisting of two members from different political parties, to remove the outer envelopes and verify the ballot affidavits.

When are absentee ballots counted in Oklahoma?

On Election Day, the county board of elections meets at the county courthouse or board of elections office to count absentee ballots. The Clerk of the County Board of Elections appoints absentee counters who meet the same requirements as precinct counters.

If approved by the Secretary of the State Board of Elections, the county board of elections may begin counting absentee ballots before Election Day, but results cannot be printed or released until 7:00 p.m. on Election Day.

Alexia Aston contributed to this report.