Oklahoma
State Senate
Communications Division
State Capitol
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73105
For Immediate Release: March 9, 2009
Sen. Don Barrington
Senate Approves Measure Allowing Soldiers More Time to Vote
The State Senate approved Senate Bill 718 Monday
to make voting easier for military personnel who are not registered
to vote and return from overseas service after the registration
deadline. The House is the next stop for the measure by Sen. Don
Barrington.
“Oklahoma was recently criticized by the Pew Center on the
States for not providing our returning military enough time to
vote. This measure will give more of our military the chance to
let their voice be heard in the election process by extending
the time in which they can return home and still be able to cast
a provisional ballot without being registered,” said Barrington
Currently, military personnel who are not registered to vote and
return home less than 25 days before an election, which is the
voter registration deadline, are allowed to cast a provisional
ballot. SB 718 extends the grace period for those individuals
to ninety days. Therefore, any military personnel who return home
within ninety days of an election will be allowed to cast a provisional
ballot, without being registered to vote prior to the deadline.
“For men and women who have been deployed overseas, the
last thing on their mind when they return is whether or not they’re
registered to vote. It’s something that can easily slip
one’s mind until right up to the election,” said Barrington.
“Their main concern is spending time with family and friends,
resting and getting acclimated back to life in the states. Returning
home from war zones can be hard for some and we don’t want
to punish any of these brave souls for accidentally forgetting
to register to vote when they’ve just returned from doing
such a tremendous and selfless service for their country.”
The bill would apply to any service member and their spouse who
has been honorably discharged, is on official leave, or whose
service or overseas employment has been terminated.
For more information contact:
Sen. Barrington's Office: 405-521-5563
