A. For the purposes of this section, “absentee ballot harvesting” means:

1. Collecting or obtaining an absentee ballot from another person with the intent to submit, transmit or return the ballot to election officials on behalf of that person;

2. Submitting, returning or transmitting an absentee ballot to election officials on behalf of another person;

3. Collecting or obtaining an absentee ballot from another person under a false pretense or promise of transmitting, returning or submitting it to election officials on behalf of that person;

4. Requesting or receiving an absentee ballot on behalf of another person;

5. Distributing an absentee ballot application or request to a voter using the official letterhead of a candidate or elected official;

6. Partially or fully completing an application for an absentee ballot on behalf of another person without that person’s prior consent; or

7. Notarizing or witnessing more absentee ballots than allowed by law.

B. Absentee ballot harvesting shall be unlawful at any election conducted by a county election board, the State Election Board or any political subdivision of this state; provided, the following shall not be deemed to be ballot harvesting:

1. A voter’s assistant or agent acting pursuant to law as otherwise allowed by this title;

2. An absentee voting board member, as described in this title, who assists a voter confined to a nursing home or State Veterans Home pursuant to law;

3. An employee of the Federal Voting Assistance Program, the United States Department of Defense or the Oklahoma National Guard who assists a uniformed-services voter in returning or transmitting an absentee ballot;

4. A spouse, relative in the first or second degree of consanguinity or affinity or cohabitant of a voter who forwards an absentee ballot to the voter when absent from the home;

5. A voter’s spouse who, with the voter’s consent, returns the voter’s absentee ballot by mail; or

6. An official action by an election official that is required or authorized by law.

Historical Data

Laws 2020, SB 1779, c. 151, § 1, emerg. eff. May 21, 2020; Amended by Laws 2022, SB 1814, c. 83, § 2, emerg. eff. April 25, 2022 (superseded document available); Amended by Laws 2022, HB 3321, c. 291, § 4 (superseded document available); Amendment by Laws 2022, HB 3321, c. 291, § 4, amended by Laws 2024, SB 2038, c. 452, § 17, emerg. eff. June 14, 2024 (superseded document available); Amendment by Laws 2022, SB 1814, c. 83, § 2, repealed by Laws 2024, SB 2038, c. 452, § 18, emerg. eff. June 14, 2024.