SECTION 230:30-5-13. Application for absentee ballots may be submitted electronically

(a)   Any registered voter may apply for absentee ballots for any election for which he or she is eligible and may submit the application to the County Election Board in the county of his or her residence by United States mail, by electronic mail, by fax, or by other means of electronic communication designated by the Secretary of the State Election Board as provided by Title 26 O.S. 2014 Supp., Section 14-105.

(b)   The Secretary of the State Election Board may establish an online absentee ballot application tool for the purpose of applying for and submitting applications for absentee ballots. Such an online application tool shall meet the following criteria.

(1)   The online absentee ballot application tool shall require the applicant to provide the following information, which is necessary to confirm an applicant's status as a registered voter and to determine that the voter is eligible to receive ballots for an election, and to determine where the absentee ballots should be sent.

(A)   Voter's name

(B)   Date of birth

(C)   Address of voter registration

(D)   Address ballots should be sent

(E)   Other information deemed necessary by the Secretary of the State Election Board

(2)   The application tool shall allow the voter to designate whether the application is for a single election or for all elections in which the voter may be eligible in a calendar year or for any other term permitted by law.

(3)   The application tool shall allow an applicant to specify, if applicable, that he or she is physically incapacitated or confined to a nursing home.

(4)   The application tool should direct an applicant who is a member of one of the uniformed services of the United States or an overseas citizen and therefore covered by the federal Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) to the Federal Voting Assistance Program website to complete a federal post-card application (FPCA) form.

(5)   The online absentee ballot application tool should prepare a form containing all the required information and specifications named in (1) through (3) of this subsection.

(6)   The online absentee ballot application tool may allow the applicant to sign the application digitally and submit it directly to the appropriate County Election Board through the online absentee ballot application tool.

(7)   The website landing page for the online absentee ballot application tool shall display information about the statutory deadline for absentee applications preceding an election.

(8)   The online application tool also shall meet any other criteria deemed necessary by the Secretary to ensure security and privacy of voter information and to prevent fraudulent use.

(c)   Any organization, entity, or individual interested in promoting voter participation through absentee voting may link to the online absentee ballot application tool on the State Election Board's website.

(d)   No online ballot application shall be accepted by the State Election Board or any County Election Board from any organization, entity or individual that creates its own absentee ballot application tool unless:

(1)   The information described in (a) of this Section is required by its application tool;

(2)   It provides to applicants the ability to sign the application digitally;

(3)   It produces a written ballot request; and

(4)   The written request is transmitted by facsimile or electronic email by the applicant to the State Election Board or the appropriate County Election Board.

[Source: Added at 32 Ok Reg 1735, eff 9-11-15; Amended at 34 Ok Reg 1122, eff 9-11-17]