Voters in Kingfisher County who want to have absentee ballots mailed to them for the March 3 election should apply now, Kingfisher County Election Board Secretary Shawna Butts said.

The election next month includes the presidential primary and two questions regarding retail liquor and individual drink consumption on-premises on Sundays.

Although the Kingfisher County Election Board can accept applications for absentee ballots until 5 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 26, Butts urged voters who want to vote by absentee ballot to apply early.

Absentee ballot application forms are available at the County Election Board office located at 101 S. Main St., Room 8.

An online version of the form can be filled out and submitted electronically at: www.elections.ok.gov. A print form can also be downloaded at that address.

“At least two mail transactions must be made,” Butts said. “The County Election Board must mail the ballots to the voter and the voter must return the voted ballots by mail.”

Ballots must be in the hands of County Election Board officials by 7 p.m. on Election Day to be counted.

Butts said any registered voter may vote by absentee ballot in any election in which he/she is eligible to vote.

However, a voter must be registered and reside at an address within the geographical boundaries of a school district or a municipality to be eligible to vote in school district or municipal elections.

It is not necessary to give a reason for voting absentee.

“While anyone can vote absentee without giving a reason, the law still provides several advantages to absentee voters in some categories,” Butts said.

By stating one of the following reasons on their applications, absentee voters can activate special conditions that make it easier for them to use absentee ballots.

The reasons are:

• Voters who are physically incapacitated and voters who care for physically incapacitated persons who cannot be left unattended;

• Voters who are confined to nursing homes;

• Military personnel and residents of the county living overseas and the spouses and dependents of each group.