Voters in Sequoyah County who want absentee ballots mailed to them for the April 7 Board of Education general election should apply now, County Election Board Secretary Ruby Brunk says.

Absentee ballots are available to all registered voters, provided they are eligible to vote in the election requested. No excuse is needed to vote by absentee ballot.

The deadline for requesting an absentee ballot is 5 p.m. March 23. Voters can submit a request using the OK Voter Portal at Oklahoma.gov/elections/ ovp. Request forms are also available at Oklahoma. gov/elections, and at the county election board office located at 110 E. Creek Avenue.

Brunk reminds voters to allow time for an absentee ballot to be received, completed and returned by mail to the county election board.

“With some exceptions, all absentee ballot affidavits must be notarized before being returned. Voters should give themselves plenty of time to make sure all steps have been followed and that the ballot is returned on time in order to be counted,” Brunk says.

Voters exempt from having an absentee ballot affidavit notarized include those who are physically incapacitated and those who care for physically incapacitated individuals that cannot be left alone. Voters who request a “physically incapacitated” ballot must have the signature on their absentee ballot affidavit witnessed by two people.

Military personnel and residents living overseas, along with their spouses and dependents are also eligible for certain allowances. Military personnel should contact the Voting Services Officer in their unit for an absentee ballot application. Residents living overseas may obtain absentee ballot applications from any U.S. military installation or U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Military personnel and overseas citizens who are already registered voters in Oklahoma may apply for absentee ballots using the OK Voter Portal at oklahoma. gov/elections/ovp. Those who need to complete a new voter registration application should apply through the Federal Voting Assistance Program at FVAP.gov.

All completed absentee ballots must be in the hands of the county election board no later than 7 p.m. on Election Day.

The Sequoyah County Election Board is located at 110 E. Creek Avenue, and is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

For questions, contact the election board at 918-7752614 or sequoyahcounty@elections.ok.gov.