Oklahoma Removes 450k Ineligible Voters From Rolls
Oklahoma election officials have removed over 450,000 ineligible voters from the state’s registration rolls in preparation for the upcoming November election. Republican Governor Kevin Stitt emphasized the importance of secure voting, stating that every Oklahoman deserves to know their vote is safely cast and counted. Since 2021, 453,000 ineligible voters have been eliminated through routine maintenance, which includes removing 5,607 felons, 97,065 deceased individuals, and 143,682 voters who have moved out of state.
Governor Stitt has collaborated with state legislators and election officials to enhance voter list integrity, using technology such as artificial intelligence to help secure elections. The state mandates voter ID for all participants in elections, ensuring that only eligible voters can cast ballots. A recently formed Task Force on Campaign Finance and Election Threats aims to improve electoral processes, recommending measures such as random post-election audits, regulations on AI use, and stricter controls on foreign campaign contributions. The governor advocates for these recommendations to ensure Oklahoma’s elections remain safe and fair, with successful recounts affirming the accuracy of the state’s voting system.
Oklahoma election officials have removed more than 450,000 ineligible voters from the state’s rolls ahead of November’s election.
“Voting is our most sacred duty as Americans — and every Oklahoman wants to know their vote is securely cast and properly counted,” said Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt in a press release.
State election officials have removed 453,000 total ineligible voters since 2021, Stitt’s office announced Wednesday.
As part of “routine voter list maintenance,” the state has removed 5,607 felons, 14,993 duplicate registrations, 97,065 dead voters, and 143,682 voters who moved out of state, according to the release. During address verification, officials also canceled 194,962 inactive voters.
We all need an ID to fly, buy alcohol, cash a check, etc.
There’s no reason a state shouldn’t have strict voter ID laws. It’s just common sense.
In Oklahoma, our laws require proof of identity for every voter, regardless of whether you’re voting early, absentee, or in-person.
— Governor Kevin Stitt (@GovStitt) September 18, 2024
Stitt’s office has been working with legislators, the state election board, and the secretary of state on voter list maintenance. Officials are using technology like artificial intelligence to “protect our elections,” said Secretary of State Josh Cockroft in the release.
“We’ve aggressively pursued policies to ensure voting is secure and accurate,” Cockroft said. “Every eligible citizen will have their vote counted and their voice heard.”
Oklahoma allows “only eligible voters” to take part in elections, according to the release. The state’s June primaries had a “100% voter verification match,” KOSU reported.
Stitt formed a Campaign Finance and Election Threats Task Force in November 2023, according to the release. The task force works to “assess the electoral process, scrutinize foreign investment in campaigns, and ensure Oklahoma elections are the safest in the nation.”
The task force recommended random post-election audits, banning ranked-choice voting, regulating the use of AI, changing contribution limits by “non-corporate entities,” banning foreign campaign expenditures, and working with Native American tribes to enforce election law, according to state documents.
“This Task Force was charged with investigating the most critical aspect of our republic: ensuring our elections are free and fair,” Stitt said in an April press release, encouraging state legislators to adopt the recommendations.
Paul Ziriax said in the latest press release that successful recounts and post-election audits have “proven the accuracy of Oklahoma’s voting system.”
“Our laws and procedures are designed to ensure the integrity and security of our elections,” Ziriax said.
Texas recently announced the removal of 1.1 million ineligible voters from the rolls during routine maintenance ahead of November’s election, as The Federalist previously reported. Other states have taken similar steps to deal with ineligible voters on the rolls.
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin revealed in an executive order in August that the state’s department of elections had removed more than 6,300 noncitizens from the voter rolls, as The Federalist reported. The same month, Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen announced his office found more than 3,000 potential noncitizens registered to vote. Earlier this year, Ohio discovered more than 100 noncitizens registered to vote, spurring the state to clean its voter rolls.
For more election news and updates, visit electionbriefing.com.
Logan Washburn is a staff writer covering election integrity. He graduated from Hillsdale College, served as Christopher Rufo’s editorial assistant, and has bylines in The Wall Street Journal, The Tennessean, and The Daily Caller. Logan is originally from Central Oregon but now lives in rural Michigan.
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