Processing, counting, and challenging absentee/mail-in ballots in Oklahoma, 2020

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In August 2020, The New York Times estimated that 80 million Americans would vote by absentee/mail-in ballot in November 2020. That would have been more than double the number who did so in November 2016. The processes states use to count absentee/mail-in ballots have come under closer inspection by state officials, candidates, political parties, and the media.

This article describes the rules in Oklahoma for processing, counting, and rejecting absentee/mail-in ballots in effect for the November 2020 election. It includes:

• How ballots are processed and counted
• Whether ballots can be challenged
• Conditions for rejecting a ballot
• Whether voters can correct mistakes on a ballot

The 2020 election took place against a backdrop of uncertainty. Our readers had questions about what to expect in elections at all levels of government, from the casting of ballots to the certification of final results. Ballotpedia's 2020 Election Help Desk was designed to answer those questions.

Processing and counting ballots

See also: When states can begin processing and counting absentee/mail-in ballots, 2020

Upon receiving completed absentee/mail-in ballots, election officials must first process the ballots before they can be counted. Processing generally entails verifying voter signatures and physically preparing ballots for tabulation. Processing practices can vary widely from state to state. Counting entails the actual tabulation of votes.

The table below highlights key dates and deadlines related to absentee/mail-in voting in Oklahoma for the November 2020 election.

Absentee voting in Oklahoma: Nov. 3, 2020, election.

Were there limits on who can request a ballot?

No

What was the deadline for requesting a ballot by mail?

Oct. 27, 2020

Was the request deadline a postmark or receipt deadline?

Received

What was the deadline for returning a voted ballot by mail?

Nov. 3, 2020

Was the return deadline a postmark or receipt deadline?

Received

Were there notary or witness requirements?

No requirement

Processing ballots

Officials in Oklahoma began processing absentee/mail-in ballots at 10:00am on October 29, 2020. As of November 2020, Oklahoma law included the following provision for processing absentee/mail-in ballots:

“

At 10 a.m. on Thursday preceding the election, or at such time thereafter as the county election board may desire, the county election board may meet and publicly remove the outer envelopes from all absentee ballots then received, examine and remove properly executed affidavits and place the plain opaque envelopes in a ballot box, locked with three locks. The procedure shall be repeated until such time as all ballots have been received. Provided, such procedure may begin at an earlier date upon the written approval of the Secretary of the State Election Board.

”

See law: 26 OK Stat § 26-14-123 (2019)

Counting ballots

Officials in Oklahoma began counting absentee/mail-in ballots at on November 3, 2020 or earlier if approved by the Secretary of the State Election Board. As of November 2020, Oklahoma law included the following provision for counting absentee/mail-in ballots:

“

A. On the day of the election at such time as the secretary of the county election board may prescribe, the county election board shall meet at the county courthouse or at the offices of the county election board if located elsewhere to count absentee ballots in the following manner: The ballot box containing the plain opaque envelopes shall be shaken to mix the envelopes, after which the box shall be opened, the envelopes removed, and the ballots counted by a voting device assigned to count absentee ballots and operated by persons appointed by the secretary of the county election board. B. The procedure described in this section shall be repeated as is necessary until all ballots have been counted. In no event shall fewer than twelve ballots be counted at any time, unless fewer than twelve ballots are received in total or after the first count is made. The results of the absentee ballots shall not be printed, made known to any person nor announced earlier than 7:00 p.m. on the day of the election. C. 1. Upon written approval by the Secretary of the State Election Board, the county election board may begin the process of counting absentee ballots as described in this section on a date earlier than the day of the election. The results of the absentee ballots shall not be printed, made known to any person nor announced earlier than 7:00 p.m. on the day of the election.

”

See law: 26 OK Stat § 26-14-125 (2019)

Oklahoma law included the following provision for who may count absentee/mail-in ballots:

“

The secretary of the county election board shall appoint absentee counters as authorized by the State Election Board, said absentee counters meeting all qualifications required of precinct counters.

”

See law: 26 OK Stat § 26-14-124 (2019)

Oklahoma law included the following provision for poll watchers:

“

Any candidate or any recognized political party shall be entitled to have a watcher present at any place where an official count is being conducted. Such watcher must be commissioned in writing by the candidate, or by the chair of the recognized political party of the county in which the watcher is being authorized. Such commission must be filed with the secretary of the appropriate county election board no later than 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday preceding the election.

”

See law: 26 OK Stat § 26-7-130 (2019)

Challenging ballots

Absentee/mail-in ballots may be challenged in an attempt to prevent the ballot from being counted. Ballots may be challenged for a variety of reasons, including: allegations that the voter is not qualified to vote in the election, the ballot was not received by the stated deadline, or that the voter had already voted in the same election. The methods and reasons for challenging ballots vary and are provided in state law. States without such provisions do not allow challenging absentee/mail-in ballots.

As of October 2020, Oklahoma does not contain provisions for challenging a ballot.

Rejecting ballots

As of November 2020, Oklahoma law included the following provision for rejecting absentee/mail-in ballots:

“

A. Absentee ballots must be accompanied by: 1. A plain opaque envelope in which voted ballots must be placed by the voter; 2. An envelope bearing an affidavit stating that the voter is qualified to vote and that the voter has personally marked the ballots, and has not exhibited the marked ballots to any other person; 3. A return envelope addressed to the secretary of the county election board; and 4. A notice that it is illegal for a Notary Public in this state to charge a fee to notarize an official absentee ballot affidavit. B. A voter may take a digital image or photograph of his or her marked absentee ballot and distribute or share the image via social media or by any other means if performed voluntarily and in compliance with state and federal law. Testimony as to how any individual cast his or her absentee ballot, whether or not said absentee ballot was lawfully cast, shall not be admissible as evidence in any court of law or public hearing in this state.

”

See law: 26 OK Stat § 26-14-107 (2019)

Ballot curing

Ballot curing refers to the process by which voters can correct mistakes—such as a missing or mismatched signature—with an absentee/mail-in ballot so that the ballot can be counted. Ballot curing provisions lay out this process in state law. States without such provisions do not count absentee/mail-in ballots with errors.

As of October 2020, Oklahoma did not have a ballot curing provision in state law.

Rules in other states

Click on a state below to view information on processing, counting, and challenging absentee/mail-in ballots in that state.

• Alabama
• Alaska
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• California
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Florida
• Georgia
• Hawaii
• Idaho
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Mississippi
• Missouri
• Montana
• Nebraska
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• New York
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Utah
• Vermont
• Virginia
• Washington
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming

More frequently asked questions about the 2020 election

Click on a question below to read the answer:

• General election information
  • Who runs elections in the United States?
  • Why do states have different election rules?
  • What methods do states use to prevent election fraud?
  • Do you have to vote for everything on your ballot?
  • What happens if you mark outside the lines or use the wrong pen/pencil?
  • What is a spoiled ballot?
  • What is a write-in candidate?
  • How can I check the status of my ballot?
  • Can I take a ballot selfie?

• Presidential election
  • What happens if a presidential candidate declares victory in the 2020 election before results are final?
  • Can presidential candidates win the election if they have already conceded?
  • What are the steps and deadlines for electing the President of the United States?
  • What happens if there is a tie in the Electoral College?
  • What are faithless electors in the Electoral College?
  • What happens if a presidential nominee becomes incapacitated before the election?
  • Can members of Congress object to Electoral College results?

• Processing and counting absentee/mail-in ballots
  • What is the life cycle of an absentee/mail-in ballot?
  • What happens if I vote by mail and want to change my ballot at a later date?
  • What happens if someone votes by mail and then tries to vote in person?
  • How do states protect and verify absentee/mail-in ballots?
  • How do election workers match signatures?
  • Are results reported on election night coming from in-person or absentee/mail-in votes?
  • Do states report how many mail-in/absentee ballots are outstanding on election night?
  • Do absentee/mail-in ballots take longer to count than in-person ballots?
  • What happens if someone votes by mail-in ballot or absentee ballot and subsequently passes away before Election Day?

• Disputing election results
  • How will election recounts work?
  • How close does an election have to be to trigger an automatic recount?
  • Can a candidate or voter request a recount?
  • Who pays for recounts and contested elections?
  • What are poll watchers?
  • What does it mean to challenge a voter's eligibility, and who can do it?
  • What is a redo election?
  • Who can file election-related lawsuits?
  • What are the reasons to call a redo election?
  • Who can call a redo election?
  • Can a redo be held for a presidential election?

• Election result reporting and certification
  • What happens if candidates declare victory in the 2020 election before results are final?
  • Can candidates win an election if they have already conceded?
  • How and when are election results finalized?
  • How do major media outlets declare winners?

• Transitions of power and taking office
  • Who is the president if election results are unknown by January 20, 2021?
  • Who serves in Congress if election results are unknown by January 2021?
  • Who serves in a state or local government if election results are unknown?
  • What happens if the winning presidential candidate becomes incapacitated before taking office?

• Articles about potential scenarios in the 2020 election
• U.S. Supreme Court actions affecting the November 3, 2020, general election

See also

• Ballotpedia's 2020 Election Help Desk
• Ballotpedia's 2020 Election Help Desk: Processing and counting absentee/mail-in ballots
• Absentee/mail-in voting, 2020