Oklahoma’s law has required that absentee/mail-in ballots to
be notarized before mailing in. Only THREE states in the nation do, so we are in a sad minority when it comes to making voting accessible for all.
Lots happened this legislative
session to bring this issue to our attention…including the Oklahoma
Supreme Court’s ruling, striking down the notary requirement. We celebrated…for
about a day. Then our Republican-dominated state legislature rushed SB810
through both houses, and Governor Stitt signed in…three days after the Court’s
ruling. I agree with the Tulsa
World, in these uncertain times, this requirement just adds a burden for
voters.
I’ve been watching the legislature closely for over ten
years…and I have never seen it move this quickly on an issue. Three.
Days. But with complicated differences for the upcoming June 30 primary. For
that day only, mail-in ballots can be notarized, or voters can enclose a copy
of their photo id, just another complication.
I remember the first time I tried to vote by mail, and the notary
requirement intimidated me…but, come to find out, Tag Agencies and banks are
required to notarize ballots for free. Easy…IF you have access to a notary. Voting
by mail is convenient, and what I appreciated the most is I could sit at home,
and research every candidate’s position on the issues I care about. I could
research every judge up for re-election. I could study every State Question on the
ballot. I have never felt so informed as a voter as when I vote by mail-in
ballot. I researched and voted, researched and voted.
There will be an important SQ on this ballot, and I really
hope Oklahoma approves the proposed expansion of Medicaid for our citizens who
lack access to affordable healthcare. Seems appropriate that we’re voting on this
issue in the middle of a global pandemic. So, vote on SQ802.
After SB210 was signed, many of us looked for ways to be
helpful, and several of us decided to become notaries public…This is my
journey.
I started on the Oklahoma
State Department website and clicked on “Notary Filing” on the right side
of the page. On the next page, I clicked on “New Commission” and saw the
initial charge was $25, for a four-year commission. Not bad. I filled in that
info and paid.
Next, I needed to buy a stamp, to sign the loyalty oath, and
pay for a surety bond.
I went to Norman
Stamp and Seal to complete my application, but I learned there, I could
have come to them from the beginning and they would have included that first
registration step with the State Department.
I really liked the embossing seal, but went with a small
round stamp. Folks at Stamp and Seal walked me next door to an insurance company
to finish the application process with my loyalty oath…which must be notarized…for
me to become a notary. I admit, we giggled just a bit at that bureaucracy.
Bond charge and stamp charge and filing charge to Stamp and
Seal came to $70.99.
Then, I waited for some kind of notification from the State
Department that my application had been filed and approved. And waited. And
waited.
Today, I checked my ‘account’ on the State Department
website, actually looking for a phone number to call and ask, and saw I am now
considered an active notary!
With my new commission number, I need to contact my County
Election Board and request a waiver to notarize more than 20 ballots for any
one election (another sneaky roadblock our state sets for us…nothing’s easy
when it comes to exercising our right to vote, is it?). The link to the Cleveland County Notary Limit Exemption
Request Form 2020 is on the first page.
Notaries need to request that exemption for each county they
may notarize ballots. So, I will probably request an exemption for Oklahoma
County, also.
I believe these exemptions are good for one calendar year
and must be renewed.
So my journey:
1.
Apply on the SOS website for a commission. Pay
$25.
2.
Work with Norman Stamp and Seal for the stamp,
the loyalty oath, and the bond. Pay $71.
3.
Norman Stamp and Seal filed my paperwork with
SOS.
4.
Wait. And wait.
5.
Apply for a limit exemption with the county
election board.
6.
Let my friends know I’ll be available to
notarize ballots.
Other notaries skipped my step 1, and went straight to a
local company to do everything. Norman Stamp and Seal told me when I went in
with my commission papers that most do it that way. In fact, google ‘how to
become a notary,’ and here’s
another link.
Yay. I’m a Notary Public!
I’m currently printing and reading directions, collecting
supplies, and wrapping my head around how to help voters safely for this
election, and going forward. I need to create a log to keep track of my work
(not sure yet if I file that with anyone).
I’ve joined the Oklahoma Notaries
Public Facebook group and have been learning from experts. I can ask my
questions there, no matter how silly they appear. I’ll rely on the experts to
help me. I’ll be extremely nervous notarizing my first ballot, but I’m eager to
make voting as easy and safe as I can for my neighbors.
And I have to make absolutely sure I’m following all the
rules: never look at a voter’s actual ballot. Never volunteering to take a ballot and turn
it in myself, which is a form of fraud called vote harvesting. A no-no. I will
carry stamps for voters to put on their ballots and mail for themselves. But I
cannot take that step for voters.
I will put together a kit containing clean pens (blue or
black ballpoint), stamps (a ballot takes extra postage…yet another small speed
bump in our right to vote), wipes and sanitizer. I want to get ‘I Voted’
stickers for voters. I’ll wear my mask
and encourage voters to wear theirs. I’ll practice physical distancing and work
to keep us safe. I’ll encourage doing this process outside if at all possible.
I’ll learn as I go and make lots of mistakes.
I will make it clear I’m supporting all voters’ right to
cast a mail-in ballot…If you're wondering, the notary never sees the actual ballot. The packet you will receive from the Election Board contains three envelopes. The inner
envelope is where the voter deposits their ballot and then seals the envelope. Then, that envelope is placed in a yellow envelope. Notaries witness the voter’s signature on the outside of that envelope. When
notarized, the voter places the inner envelope in the self-addressed (not
stamped) envelope, places postage ($.85) on the envelope, and mails the ballot.
Don’t be intimidated like I was by the absentee/mail-in voting
procedure.
Friday is the deadline to register to vote if you are not a registered voter. Directions to register are here. Applying for your mail-in ballot is easy! You
can apply here, receive your ballot and instructions, vote in the comfort
of your own home, researching as you go, and reach out to get the ballot
notarized. Stay safe this election cycle.
A former student came up with the perfect name for my new
endeavor: #Notary4Pleasure. We called my class at North #Reading4Pleasure, so
it’s a natural fit!
#HaveStampWillTravel
