[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6327040,"mediaKeyId","2323311-84ee06888754abb58332137d485f920a","parentId",2323311,"title","Committee backs bill requiring notaries who notarize many absentee ballots to submit logs","audioSeconds",307,"startMs",1891000,"endMs",2198000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2323311-84ee06888754abb58332137d485f920a&start=1891&end=2198","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2323311-84ee06888754abb58332137d485f920a/thumbnail_1891000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6327040/Oklahoma/Committee-backs-bill-requiring-notaries-who-notarize-many-absentee-ballots-to-submit-logs","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6327040-d1329065764a1a2e1fa9c5062212faa2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771065415&Signature=UJDOrhLLefMyQMiDAVhfQs3IEF8vZSfUugqJp6SQgY~5psv~MV~qtwseR~x7AapxT95S2pxWy3SfIkf4~9WGLy6BT6XUsQGlrLu0aZVEaXDtr8VLFHevv05-KVYUKXdpI0qArbw-987mTccBd3LRwxUPypplJBBEqb3N75BjrlYStb5Xnyqogg2QS20lYLzcLSLcmNQA5fdb6r~U0TthTf3MG-Zt0l82xctQA2~sI4FOuAwNPPXl065V-UdKzHTnV-JbHrnZjot7YKljiWsx3j9-MT6XUFrTUloKP~wQZOVyev0G7SB~lV5qxHRAvWCdg4QL1mJ8ODmEupFjtfWr7g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","OK State Legislature","date","2025-02-17T00:00:00Z","article","The House Elections Committee approved a committee substitute for House Bill 2191 that would require anyone notarizing more than 20 absentee ballots in an election to turn in a copy of the log they are already required to keep. Representative Wolffley presented the PCS and said the bill’s requirement is to have notaries submit the list they maintain.

Questions from committee members focused on the origin of the 20-ballot threshold and whether the bill represents a new burden. Representative Dallins asked why the number 20 was chosen; Wolffley said the figure is in current statute. Committee members and the State Election Board secretary recounted the historical reason for the limit: an Adair County case in which a notary public notarized absentee ballots and related fraud was later prosecuted. The secretary said the 20-ballot cap was adopted by the legislature in response to that case.

The State Election Board secretary described how the existing statute operates and said the current limit required county election board permission to notarize more than 20 ballots; the PCS would add a requirement that those notarizing more than 20 turn in the list they keep. Committee members also asked whether the bill as written would impose civil penalties or criminal sanctions for accidental overages; the sponsor and secretary said the current draft applies to cases in which a person requests permission to notarize more than 20 and that the statute focuses on willful and intentional violations.

After questions and without extended debate, the committee recorded a 5–1 vote in favor of the PCS and the chairman declared the bill passed out of committee.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Elections and Ethics Feb 17, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","House Bill 2191, presented as a committee substitute, would require notaries who notarize more than 20 absentee ballots (the existing statutory threshold) to turn in the copy of the list they already keep; the committee passed the measure 5–1 after members cited a historical Adair County notary fraud case behind the original limit.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature OK, Oklahoma","taxId",78380,"location","Oklahoma","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6327045,"Committee advances bill to set five permanent election dates each year",417,1465000,1882000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2323311-84ee06888754abb58332137d485f920a&start=1465&end=1882","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2323311-84ee06888754abb58332137d485f920a/thumbnail_1465000.jpg","/articles/6327045/Oklahoma/Committee-advances-bill-to-set-five-permanent-election-dates-each-year","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6327045-77b29372501d99316a60d94941ca07ff/orig.mp4?Expires=1771065415&Signature=N76rVIA8D5PoW8mcskaLOYNMYRuK6ovF~sqOQ4K0HAzHpAhUdEoZziOlnLqf6~nS16amo2xMSyAHqNUScTzfCIqhwDESyl819VKS8-LgIRefuboDtwEKYFIi9e-a957M7-1Ih1xy3lFhUfVrjhYIsu1~BWQBLvN59PmDNGVLd67jfD8F7GzFz8~RsBGKIR843EE1KuXtIdfYh6dfZnih1hM3JzcqeDWUdFaQbb3ilDqBFnJFYPvupULUpsCEkeBVxXRAfCxTurLbCE2WI0JImBGG-7FDYpGShi2gVXEbrVSnUQm-cTe1dwCd2wOz-NTMeoATWcBlvggWK2JAG95wjA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Elections Committee advanced a committee substitute for House Bill 2106 that would set five permanent election dates each year in Oklahoma: February, April, June, August and November. Representative Osborne presented the PCS and told the committee he worked with the State Election Board on much of the language and that he believes the state currently has too many election dates, which depresses turnout on some contests.

The bill would standardize elections on five dates annually and includes an exception allowing the governor to call a special election in limited circumstances, such as a vacancy in the U.S. Congress or the state legislature or during a national or state emergency.

Committee members asked several procedural questions. Representative Cross Weidhater asked why the sponsor chose the specific dates and whether they align with current practices; Osborne said the five dates mirror the big election days already used in even-numbered years and that in odd-numbered years the bill conforms those dates to match even years. He acknowledged the choice of a particular Tuesday in months such as January, July or September could collide with holidays, so the PCS puts some dates on the second Tuesday in months where holidays are more likely.

Members also asked whether the bill would change timing of the presidential primary; Osborne said it would not and that in a presidential-election year the state would have an extra, sixth date for the presidential primary unless the law is later adjusted. The sponsor said the committee could consider further refinements to harmonize the presidential-primary date in future discussions.

After brief remarks and without extended debate, the committee recorded a 5–1 vote in favor of the PCS and the chairman declared the bill passed out of committee.","House Bill 2106, a committee substitute presented to the House Elections Committee, would reduce the number of distinct election dates in Oklahoma by setting five recurring election days each year; the committee voted 5–1 to pass the measure.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6327048,"Committee approves bill requiring voters to give reason when applying for absentee ballot",0,2041000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2323311-84ee06888754abb58332137d485f920a&start=2041&end=2041","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2323311-84ee06888754abb58332137d485f920a/thumbnail_2041000.jpg","/articles/6327048/Oklahoma/Committee-approves-bill-requiring-voters-to-give-reason-when-applying-for-absentee-ballot","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6327048-c15f2d144fda7484c4f6191efaf1122a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771065415&Signature=SfCi6ht69rlW8dt2ik36bMjXyWjnTwRh3hFvFqWEhoLAcA95bOQJ1vQvsIYD4gm08Fclx~DaMEpG3bX0ecGcXvw7u6l7L-BYvSNuOVl8TmYsMb83OAiG1gNPGotUZTIO5bLuqagV5InyLGOGZYpvh6KXQs1VYWZGXeLI0YZQ5H5ncbuTtBaDKPjKTpGQrXjfFw5sNJPxFZYjKGFqMwkx9j-JZdSqRP0shO5dTP~AorTs~yt7r8eDS65Kg7xfEkJqKCA-w-3O5EphkPqHxh7f69YX85v2ZKtMmAM~rVlyqFYyWaUggzOsFq3~KHEJMNIr-4tNyFM9uLmhBMaIkLjJHg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Elections Committee on an unspecified date approved a committee substitute for House Bill 1515 that would require registered voters who apply for absentee ballots to indicate, on the application, the reason they cannot vote in person.

Proponents said the change would strengthen election integrity; opponents called the requirement intrusive and unnecessary. Representative Jenkins, who presented the committee substitute, said the form would require applicants to check a box indicating why they cannot vote in person either on election day or during early in-person absentee voting. Jenkins said the change was “one more measure to strengthen the integrity of voting.”

The bill drew repeated questions from committee members about both the evidence for absentee fraud and how the new application would work in practice. Representative Collins asked Jenkins to cite any example of absentee fraud in Oklahoma; Jenkins said he could not cite a specific example from last year but said the bill is intended to prevent such situations. Representative Collins and others pressed whether asking a voter to state a reason is inconsistent with other constitutional rights; Jenkins replied that the requirement would be minimal — “all they have to do is check a box” — and not a request for permission.

Paul Zierox, identified in the hearing as the State Election Board secretary, described how absentee applications currently work and how the proposed form would fit into election records. Zierox said the standard absentee application options (uniformed services, physically incapacitated and others) already exist and that an applicant can apply for a single election or for the entire year under current processes. He told the committee that absentee ballot applications are a matter of public record, that identifying information such as a driver’s license number or the last four of a Social Security number would be redacted for public requests, and that election records are kept for roughly 24 months after an election date.

Committee members also asked what would be done with the list of stated reasons. Jenkins said no one would be denied a ballot for selecting a reason; the requirement is to state a reason on the form. Zierox said such applications would be retained as part of periodic election audits because absentee applications are public records.

Members questioned whether the bill’s purpose was to discourage absentee voting; Representative Stairs asked whether that was the intent. Jenkins replied the stated goal was to “strengthen the integrity of the election” and suggested making applicants “give pause” before using absentee ballots. Jenkins also cited three other states he said require a reason — Texas, Tennessee and Indiana — as rough comparisons.

Concerns raised by committee members included whether the form would require voters to reapply for each election if their circumstances changed and whether having boxes for “illness” or “religion” is intrusive. Jenkins said the bill would not require a voter to specify which religion they practice; a voter would simply check the religion box if applicable.

After questions and brief debate, the committee recorded a 4–3 vote in favor of the committee substitute and the chairman declared the bill passed out of committee.

Votes at a glance: committee recorded the measure 4 aye, 3 nay; mover/second not specified in the hearing record.

Because the hearing transcript contained differing descriptions of some operational details — for example, committee members read parts of the draft as limiting an application to a single election while the State Election Board secretary described the current system as allowing single-election or year-long applications — the committee record shows discussion but not a single definitive procedural answer in the hearing itself.

The committee adopted the PCS as a working draft and forwarded the bill with a favorable recommendation.","The House Elections Committee approved a committee substitute for House Bill 1515 that would require registered voters applying for absentee ballots to indicate a reason on the application; the measure passed the committee 4–3 after members debated privacy, recordkeeping and the stated goal of “strengthening integrity.”","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee backs bill requiring notaries who notarize many absentee ballots to submit logs

Committee advances bill to set five permanent election dates each year

Committee approves bill requiring voters to give reason when applying for absentee ballot