Cleveland County voters who want to cast an absentee ballot in the Nov. 3 general election must request one by 5 p.m. Oct. 19.

The deadline is separate from the voter registration cutoff, which passed Friday, Oct. 9. As we reported Oct. 9, registration is closed for the November election. But registered voters who need to vote by mail have until Oct. 19 to apply for an absentee ballot.

Voters can submit a request through the OK Voter Portal online, or by completing a paper application and sending it by email, mail, fax or hand delivery to the Cleveland County Election Board, according to the board's website. Applications can also be downloaded from the Oklahoma State Election Board's website.

The Cleveland County Election Board office is at 641 East Robinson, Suite 200, in Norman. It is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The phone number is 405-366-0210. Bryant Rains is the election board secretary.

What's on the ballot

The Nov. 3 general election is open to voters of any party, as well as independents, Oklahoma Voice reported. Races include Oklahoma's next governor, a U.S. Senate seat, U.S. House seats, lieutenant governor, attorney general, state superintendent, state treasurer and commissioners of labor, insurance and corporation.

Two state questions will also appear on every ballot. State Question 845 would change rules for how members are appointed to the Judicial Nominating Commission, the body that screens candidates for state judgeships. State Question 847 would lower existing caps, beginning in 2027, from 3% to 1.75% for homesteads and agricultural land, and from 5% to 4% for most other real property.

Return deadlines and early voting

Requesting a ballot and returning it carry different deadlines. Mailed absentee ballots must reach the county election board by 7 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 3, according to Oklahoma Voice. Hand-delivered absentee ballots must arrive by close of business the day before the election, Nov. 2.

The Norman Transcript also reported on the approaching deadline, noting that applications are available through the OK Voter Portal and from county election boards.

Early in-person voting runs Oct. 28 through Oct. 31. On Election Day, polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.