Anyone who wants an absentee ballot for the April 7 elections should apply now, according to Tulsa County Election Board Secretary Gwen Freeman.

Freeman urged voters to apply now even though the Election Board can accept applications for absentee ballots until 5 p.m. April 1.

The ballot on April will have:

• Tulsa Public School Board, Districts 5 and 6
• Collinsville Public School Board Office 5
• Union Public School Board Office 5
• Berryhill Public School Board Office 5
• Special proposition for Berryhill Schools
• City of Jenks bond election
• Special proposition for Keystone Schools

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

Oklahomans who want to change their party affiliation must submit their change no later than March 31, according to Freeman.  Voters can make that change at the OK Voter Portal at elections.ok.gov/ovp or with completion of a new voter registration application.

According to state law, no party changes are allowed between April 1 and August 31 during even-numbered years, Freeman said.

“If we receiver your request after March 31, we are required to hold that request and process it in September,” she said.

Only three parties – Republican, Democrat and Libertarian – are recognized officially in Oklahoma. Voters must be a registered member of a party to vote in that party’s primary election. The Democrat Party will allow Independents to vote in their primaries. All registered voters can vote for the candidate of their choice in a general election.

Absentee ballot applications and voter registration is available at elections.ok.gov or the Tulsa County Election Board, 555 N. Denver Ave. It’s open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The phone number is 918-596-5780.