The new year brings into effect a new Oklahoma law aimed at bringing greater clarity, consistency and efficiency to when elections are held across the state.

 

The Election Calendar Modernization Law or Senate Bill 652 consolidates Oklahoma’s election dates into five standard election days each year, held in February, April, June, August and November. Previously, Oklahoma law allowed for up to 12 possible election dates in odd-numbered years and up to seven in even-numbered years.

 

State lawmakers hope these updates will reduce the number of obscure election days, helping voters more easily keep track of elections and making elections easier to staff.

 

While the new law reorganizes the timing of certain special elections, propositions and candidate races, it leaves all existing voting processes intact. Absentee voting, early voting and voter access options remain unchanged. The bill also preserves key exceptions, including the governor’s authority to call special elections outside the standard calendar when necessary.