Oklahoma Expunges 450,000 Ineligible Voters to Enhance Election Security

People standing in line at a voting station.

Oklahoma removes over 450,000 ineligible voters from rolls, bolstering election integrity ahead of 2024.

At a Glance

  • Oklahoma purged 450,309 ineligible voter registrations since 2021
  • Removed voters include deceased, out-of-state movers, felons, and inactive registrants
  • State employs hand-marked paper ballots and strict voter ID laws
  • Bipartisan task force confirmed the strength of Oklahoma’s electoral process
  • Additional measures include banning ballot harvesting and implementing post-election audits

Oklahoma Takes Bold Action to Secure Voter Rolls

In a significant move to safeguard election integrity, Oklahoma has successfully removed 450,309 ineligible voters from its rolls since 2021. This comprehensive cleanup, led by Governor Kevin Stitt, demonstrates the state’s unwavering commitment to ensuring that only eligible citizens participate in the democratic process. The purge includes 97,065 deceased voters, 143,682 out-of-state movers, 5,607 convicted felons, 14,993 duplicate registrations, and 194,962 inactive voters.

Governor Stitt emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating, “Voting is our most sacred duty as Americans and every Oklahoman wants to know their vote is securely cast and properly counted. The State Election Board and the Secretary of State’s office continue to go above and beyond in their responsibility to ensure only eligible Oklahomans can vote in our elections. Their progress reassures me we will continue to lead the nation in election integrity efforts.”

Strengthening Election Security Measures

Oklahoma’s commitment to election integrity extends beyond voter roll maintenance. The state employs hand-marked paper ballots counted by offline e-scan tabulators, enhancing security and transparency. Additionally, strict voter ID laws require all voters to prove their identity at the polls, further safeguarding against potential fraud.

“Oklahoma has a long tradition of doing elections right,” Secretary of the State Election Board Paul Ziriax said Wednesday. “Recounts and post-election audits have consistently proven the accuracy of Oklahoma’s voting system, and our laws and procedures are designed to ensure the integrity and security of our elections.”

A bipartisan Campaign Finance and Election Threats Task Force, formed in November 2023, has confirmed the strength of Oklahoma’s electoral process. The task force’s recommendations include banning ranked choice voting and mandating post-election audits, further bolstering the state’s commitment to fair and secure elections.

Innovative Approaches to Election Protection

Oklahoma is not resting on its laurels when it comes to election security. The state is taking proactive measures to address emerging threats, including those related to artificial intelligence. Secretary of State Josh Cockroft highlighted these efforts, saying, “Through close collaboration with the Governor’s Office, the State Election Board, and our colleagues in the Legislature, Oklahoma has fortified our electoral process. We’ve aggressively pursued policies to ensure voting is secure and accurate, and we’re innovating to protect our elections from emerging technology like AI. In Oklahoma, every eligible citizen will have their vote counted and their voice heard.”

The state is also collaborating with its Cyber Command to protect the election system from potential cyber threats, ensuring that Oklahoma’s elections remain secure in an increasingly digital world.

As we approach the critical 2024 elections, Oklahoma’s actions serve as a model for other states to follow, demonstrating how to balance accessibility with security in our voting systems. For law-abiding citizens concerned about the fairness of our electoral process, this news from Oklahoma offers reassurance that at least one state is taking concrete steps to protect the voice of every eligible voter.

Sources:

  1. State purges more than 450,000 from voter rolls
  2. Oklahoma Governor highlights recent voter purge as latest in ongoing election integrity efforts
  3. Oklahoma Removes 450,000 Ineligible Voters from Rolls in Ongoing Maintenance Effort
  4. Governor Stitt, State Election Officials Provide Update on Election Integrity Efforts, Remove Ineligible Voters from Rolls
  5. How secure are Oklahoma’s elections?
  6. Oklahoma governor announces state has dropped 450,000 voters from voter rolls since 2021

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