Oklahoma Administrative Code › Title 230 - State Election Board › Chapter 30 - Absentee Voting › Subchapter 7 - Absentee Voting Boards › Section 230:30-7-9 - Procedure for the nursing home Absentee Voting Board

Current through Vol. 41, No. 20, July 1, 2024
(a) On the day scheduled for the Absentee
				Voting Board to visit nursing homes and veteran centers, the Board shall meet
				with the Secretary of the County Election Board at the County Election Board
				office. The members shall sign the Absentee Voting Board Record. The ballot box
				shall be prepared as outlined in
				230:30-7-8 and issued to the
				nursing home Absentee Voting Board members. Adequate supplies and ballots shall
				be provided to anticipate voter assistance requirements and spoiled ballots.
				Precautions shall be taken to insure accounting for each ballot. The Secretary
				shall instruct the Absentee Voting Board as to the type of ballots each voter
				shall receive in case a voter spoils a ballot and a new ballot must be
				issued.
(b) The Absentee Voting
				Board shall observe the following procedure:
(1) The two members of the Absentee Voting
				Board shall travel together in one automobile, taking all necessary forms and
				supplies.
(2) Upon arrival at a
				nursing home or veteran center, the Absentee Voting Board shall make
				arrangements for those incapacitated voters listed on the Absentee Voting Board
				Record to vote. Only those persons whose names are on the Absentee Voting Board
				Record shall be permitted to vote. If the message "Confirm Address" or
				"Insufficient Address" appears on the Absentee Voting Board Record, the
				Absentee Voting Board members shall give the voter a copy of the Address
				Information Requested handout and shall ask the voter to complete an Oklahoma
				Voter Registration Application form.
(3) The voter must mark his ballots with a
				black or blue ballpoint pen in the presence of the Absentee Voting Board, but
				in such a manner as to make it impossible for anyone but the voter to tell how
				the ballots are marked. [26:14-115(3)]
(4) As far as possible, the voting procedure
				shall be the same as if the voter were casting a ballot in person at a
				precinctpolling place on election day. [26:14-115(3)] This includes providing
				privacy and offering assistance, as provided by law, to persons who are unable
				to mark their own ballots due to physical or visual disabilities or illiteracy.
				The voter assistance procedures outlined in the Election Day Reference and
				Problem Solver section of the Precinct Official Notebook shall be followed.
				However, the Voter Assistance Form shall not be used. The person who marks the
				voter's ballot shall complete and sign the "Assistant's Oath" on the absentee
				affidavit envelope. [26:14-113.2]
(5) While a voter may receive assistance,
				only the voter may determine how the ballots are to be marked. If the voter is
				unable to instruct the person providing assistance, the voter shall not be
				permitted to vote. If necessary, the voter also may receive assistance to
				complete the Oklahoma Voter Registration Application.
(6) The procedure outlined in the Election
				Day Reference and Problem Solver section of the Precinct Official Notebook
				shall be followed if a voter spoils a ballot. The Spoiled Ballot Affidavit
				shall be used as required.
(7) When
				the voter has marked the ballots, the voter shall fold and seal them in the
				white ballots envelope. [26:14-115(4)] The voter then shall seal the white
				ballots envelope inside the pink affidavit envelope. [26:14-115(4)]
(8) The voter then shall complete and sign
				the affidavit. [26:14-115(4)] The voter's signature must be witnessed by both
				members of the Absentee Voting Board. [26:14-115(4)] The Absentee Voting Board
				members shall sign the affidavit in the space for witnesses but shall not be
				required to provide their addresses.
(9) The affidavit envelope then shall be
				placed in the outer envelope and sealed. [26:14-115(5)]
(10) Each outer envelope containing absentee
				ballots immediately shall be placed in the absentee ballot box.
(11) If a voter listed on the Absentee Voting
				Board Record is present, a member of the Absentee Voting Board shall check
				either the "Voted" column or the "Did Not Vote" column, as appropriate. If the
				voter is not present at the time of the Absentee Voting Board visit or moved
				back home at to another nursing home, check "Undeliverable." If the voter has
				died, check "Undeliverable" and follow the instructions in (c) of this section.
(12) All Oklahoma Voter
				Registration Application forms completed by voters to update their voter
				registration information shall be placed with other voting supplies for return
				to the County Election Board office.
(13) When the Absentee Voting Board has
				completed its visit to each nursing home or veteran center scheduled for that
				particular day, the members shall return to the County Election Board office
				and leave the ballot box in the custody of the Secretary. [26:14-115(5)] The
				Absentee Voting Board members shall account for all supplies and unused
				ballots. The ballot box shall be removed from the County Election Board office
				only when the Absentee Voting Board is performing its duties. The ballot box,
				once locked, shall not be unlocked again until it is time for the County
				Election Board members to remove the outer envelopes. See
				230:30-11-2.