Over 21,000 Oklahomans Plan To Weigh In On Recreational Pot Through Absentee Ballots

With the special election a little less than two weeks away the State Election Board prepares for voters, some of whom already have and casted their ballots through absentee votes.

When the number of absentee ballots requested for November's election is compared to the amount requested for the recreational weed vote, it looks like barely a drop in the bucket. Experts said, since State Question 820 will be standing alone on the ballot, the number of absentee ballots requested is pretty high.

More than 21,000 Oklahomans have already made plans to weigh in on recreational weed via requested absentee ballots.

"Right now, about 3,300 of those have been returned," said State Election Board Public Information Officer, Misha Mohr.

The 21,330 absentee ballots for the March 7th Special Election is dwarfed by the ~100,000 requests for an absentee ballot from November's General Election.

"Had numerous offices on the ballot. We had state offices, we had federal offices and generally speaking you see more turnout at those general elections," explained Misha.  

News 9's Political Analyst, Scott Mitchell said, "at first glance, it's a lot less than the general but then it is a special election, and if you look at primaries and school bond votes, not many people show up to those."

The stand-alone nature of SQ 820 makes it different from the last two major state questions Oklahomans decided on. 

"Because it's such an island because there's nothing else to get people out for," said Scott.

The 2018 election, Scott said, showed the topic of marijuana does get people on both ends of the argument out to the polls.

"I think there will be a big turnout on this. There was a big turnout on the first one," Scott said. "There's quite a bit of data that there are some first-time voters and one and done type voters in the medical marijuana state question a few years ago."

Scott added that since medical marijuana was legalized Oklahomans, tolerance for pot has also grown.

"Everybody drives by a dispensary every single day within five minutes of leaving the house. People are used to it. Even the people who were opposed," Scott explained.

The election board wants to make sure people know early voting for this Special Election is only the Thursday and Friday prior to the March 7th Special Election and only from 8AM-6PM. Voters may also have to confirm their address before they cast a ballot.  

Below is the updated statute for the special election:

See 26 O.S. § 14-105 – specifically (B)(5).

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.

Section 7-115.1 provides additional clarification:

Before being issued a ballot during in-person absentee voting or at the voter's precinct or when applying for an absentee ballot, the following voters shall be required to complete an address confirmation form prescribed by the Secretary of the State Election Board:

1. An inactive voter;

2. A voter identified by the Secretary of the State Election Board as possibly having changed his or her residence based on National Change of Address data;

3. A voter with an invalid address as defined in subsection B of Section 4-113 of this title or who has had a voter identification card returned to the county election board by the United States Postal Service as undeliverable.