Req. No. 1629 Page 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 STATE OF OKLAHOMA 1st Session of the 59th Legislature (2023) SENATE BILL 1016 By: Jett AS INTRODUCED An Act relating to absentee ballots; amending 2 6 O.S. 2021, Section 14-105, as amended by Section 1, Chapter 292, O.S.L. 2022 (26 O.S. Sup p. 2022, Section 14-105), which relates to appl ications for ballot; requiring certain list on request form for absentee ballot; requiring applicant for absentee ball ot to select reason for request; and prov iding an effective date. BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 26 O.S. 2021, Section 14 -105, as amended by Section 1, Chapter 292, O.S.L. 2022 (26 O.S. Supp. 2022, Section 14-105), is amended to read as follows: Section 14-105. A. 1. Any registered voter may apply for an absentee ballot in person at the county election board, by United States mail, by facsimile device as defined in Sec tion 1862 of Title 21 of the Oklahoma Statute s or by a means of electronic communication designated by the Secretary of the State Election Board. The Secretary of the State Election Board shall prescribe a form to be used for the application, although any application setting forth substantially the same facts shall be valid. Req. No. 1629 Page 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 2. The form to be used for the application required pursuant to this section shall contain a list of valid reasons for requesting the absentee ballot. To receive an absentee ballot, the voter shall select one reason for which the voter is unable to vote in person early or on election day, described as follows: a. absent from the jurisdiction, b. illness or disability, c. employment-related, d. education-related, e. military service, f. religion, g. serving as an election official, h. seventy-five (75) years of age or older, i. incarcerated or institutionalized, j. serving on jury duty, or k. participation in a confidentiality program. B. 1. A registered voter applying for an absentee ballot by means of electronic communication shall provide his or her name, birth date, an identification number, and other informatio n as may be prescribed by the Secretary of the S tate Election Board. The name, birth date, and identification number provided on the application must match the name, birth date, and identification number in the voter registration record in order to apply for an absentee ballot pursuant to this subsection . Req. No. 1629 Page 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 2. If the voter does not recall which identificatio n number he or she included in the voter registration record, the voter may provide multiple identification numbers, at least one of which must match the identification number in the voter registration record if such record included an identification numbe r. If the name, birth date, or any identification number provided does not match the voter registration record, the voter shall be informed of the failure to match the voter registration rec ord and shall be provided information and instruction to contact the county election board. 3. If the voter registration record on file with the county election board does not contain a birth date or identification number, the voter shall not be eligible to apply for an absentee ballot by means of electronic communicat ion but may apply for an absentee ballot pursuant to subsection C of this section. 4. Identifying information such as birth date and identification number shall not be modified online in an existing voter registration except as provided in Section 4 -109.4 of this title. 5. No later than January 1, 2023, a registered voter applying for an absentee ballot pursuant to this subsection who meets the criteria provided in Section 7-115.1 of this title shall be required to confirm his or her address prior to submitting an application for absentee ballot by means of electronic communication. Req. No. 1629 Page 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 C. 1. A registered voter applying for an absentee ballot in person, by United States mail, or by facsimile device shall provide his or her name, birth date, an identification number, and other information as may be prescribed by the Secretary of the State Election Board. The name, birth date, and identification number provided on the application must match the name, birth date, and identification number in the voter registration record. 2. If the voter does not recall which identification number he or she included in the voter registration record, the voter may provide multiple identification numbers, at least one of which must match the identification number in the voter registration record if such record included an identification number. If the voter registration record does not contain a birth date or an identification number, the absentee ballot application shall be accepted without a match of a birth date or an identification number. D. For purposes of this section, “identification number” means a number submitted on the regist ration application pursuant to paragraph 3 of subsection A of Section 4-112 of this title. SECTION 2. This act shall become effective November 1, 2023. 59-1-1629 TEK 1/19/2023 12:26:29 PM