Oklahoma 2024 Regular Session

Oklahoma House Bill HB2024 Latest Draft

Bill / Engrossed Version Filed 03/09/2023

                             
 
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ENGROSSED HOUSE 
BILL NO. 2024 	By: Wolfley and O'Donnell of 
the House 
 
  and 
 
  Bergstrom of the Senate 
 
 
 
 
 
[ elections - notary public – restrictions - 
exception - log of notarized absentee ballot 
affidavits – penalties - effective date ] 
 
 
 
 
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: 
SECTION 1.     AMENDATORY     26 O.S. 2021, Section 14 -108.1, is 
amended to read as follows: 
Section 14-108.1 A.  Neither a notary public nor an a gent 
working on behalf of a notary publi c shall be authorized to: 
1.  Request absentee ballots on behalf of a voter other than 
himself or herself; 
2.  Assist a voter in requesting absentee ba llots, other than 
for himself or herself or a member of his or he r household; 
3.  Receive by mail an abse ntee ballot on behalf of a voter, 
other than for himself or herself or a member of his or her 
household; or   
 
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4.  Submit a completed absentee ballot on b ehalf of a voter 
other than for himself or herself. 
B.  1. A notary public shall maintain a log of all a bsentee 
ballot affidavits that he or she notarizes for a period of at least 
two (2) years after the date of the electio n.  The log shall includ e 
the name and address of the voter and the date, time, and location 
of the notarization. 
2. a. A notary public who is authorized to notarize more 
than twenty absentee ballot affidavits at a single 
election, as provided in paragraph 2 of subsection C 
of this section, shall submit a copy of the log to the 
secretary of the county electio n board who granted the 
written permission.  The copy of the log must be 
received by the secretary of the county election board 
no later than the close of business on the firs t 
business day following the date of the election . 
b. The log shall be a public rec ord and shall be 
maintained by the secretary of the county election 
board pursuant to Section 3 -126 of this title. 
c. A notary public who fails to submit the log as 
required by this section, or who notarizes more than 
twenty absentee ballots without authorization pursuant 
to paragraph 2 of subsection C of this section, shall 
have his or her notary public appointment revoked for   
 
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eight (8) years by the Secreta ry of State.  If the 
notary public willfully and intentionall y violates the 
provisions of this section, then that notary public 
shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to a fine 
of up to Five Hundred Dollars ( $500.00). 
C.  1.  A notary public s hall be authorized to notarize a 
maximum of twenty absentee ballot affida vits for a single election, 
except as provided in paragraphs 2 and 3 of this subsection. 
2. A notary public may be authorized to notarize more than 
twenty absentee ballot affidavits at a single election with the 
written approval of the secretary of the co unty election board.  
Such approval shall apply for affidavits no tarized within the county 
served by the county election board secretary. 
3.  The limitation required by this subsection shall not apply 
to the notarizing of absentee ballot affidavits at the place of 
business of a notary public that is open to the general public 
during the normal business hours of the notary public. 
D.  1.  If more than ten abs entee ballots for a single election 
are requested to be mailed to a single mailing address, the 
secretary of the coun ty election board shall immediately notify the 
district attorney for that county and the Secretary of the State 
Election Board. 
2.  Upon receipt of such notification, the district attorney, or 
a member of law enforcement designated by the district attorney ,   
 
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shall investigate any possible criminal violati on of the law related 
to the absentee ballot requests. 
3.  Provided, this notification req uirement shall not apply to 
requests for absentee ballots to be sent to the addresses of nursing 
homes, veterans cent ers, medical facilities, multiunit housing, 
installations of the Armed Forces of the United States where 
uniformed or overseas voters, as d efined by the Uniformed and 
Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, are stationed or other 
locations authorized in wri ting by the Secretary of the State 
Election Board. 
E.  The provisions of this section shall only apply to an 
election conducted by a county election board, the State Election 
Board or a political subdivision of this state. 
SECTION 2.  This act shall become effective November 1, 2023. 
Passed the House of Representatives the 8th day of March, 2023. 
 
 
 
  
 	Presiding Officer of the House 
 	of Representatives 
 
 
 
Passed the Senate the ___ day of __________, 2023. 
 
 
 
  
 	Presiding Officer of the Senate