How to get an absentee ballot

Voters who want absentee ballots mailed to them for the Feb. 11 election should apply now.

According to the Kay County election office this ballot will have the annual school election for Newkirk, Shidler and Blackwell school districts and Ponca City municipal elections.

The county election board can accept applications for absentee ballots until Feb. 5, but they urge you to apply early.

Absentee ballot applications are available at the county election board office in Newkirk.

Applications can also be downloaded online here .

The Kay County election board said they will mail you the ballot and you must mail the ballot back by 7 p.m. on the election day.

Any registered voter may vote by absentee ballot without reason or excuse.

However, to vote in this election you must be registered and reside at an address within the geographical boundaries of the school district or municipality.

Voters can get special conditions that make it easier to use absentee ballots if they fall into one of these categories:

1. Voters who are physically incapacitated and voters who care for physically incapacitated persons who cannot be left unattended.

2. Military personnel and residents of the county living overseas, and the spouses and dependents of each group are eligible to vote absentee without being registered. Military personnel should contact the Voting Services Officers in their units for application forms and additional information. They can also download the application here .

3. Voters who are confined to nursing homes in the county may vote absentee. An absentee voting board actually goes to the nursing home a few days before the election, sets up a small polling place and allows these persons to vote under circumstances similar to those at a regular precinct polling place.