Oklahoma officials have announced the removal of more than 453,000 ineligible voters from the state’s voter rolls since January 2021.
This massive purge, part of the state’s routine voter list maintenance required by law, has raised eyebrows and sparked discussions about election integrity across the country.
Governor Kevin Stitt’s office released a statement detailing the breakdown of the removed voters.
The list includes 97,065 deceased individuals, 143,682 people who have moved out of state, 5,607 felons, 14,993 duplicate registrations and a staggering 194,962 inactive voters eliminated through an address verification process.
Stitt emphasized the importance of this action, stating, “Voting is our most sacred duty as Americans—and every Oklahoman wants to know their vote is securely cast and properly counted.”
He praised the efforts of the State Election Board and the Secretary of State’s office, noting that they “continue to go above and beyond in their responsibility to ensure only eligible Oklahomans can vote in our elections.”
The governor expressed confidence that these measures will solidify Oklahoma’s position as a leader in election integrity efforts nationwide.
This voter roll cleanup is just one part of a broader strategy to safeguard elections in the state.
The Post Millennial (TPM) reported that in November 2023, Governor Stitt established the Campaign Finance and Election Threats Task Force.
This body has been instrumental in recommending new security measures, which have already resulted in legislative action.
Two notable outcomes are the ban on ranked choice voting and the implementation of mandatory post-election audits, per TPM.
Oklahoma has been proactive in addressing potential vulnerabilities in its electoral system.
In 2020, the state outlawed “ballot harvesting,” a practice where third parties collect and deliver ballots on behalf of voters.
Penalties were put in place for those who violate this ban.
Additionally, Oklahoma requires proof of identity for all voters, regardless of their chosen voting method, further strengthening the integrity of the voting process.
TPM noted that Secretary of State Josh Cockroft highlighted the state’s commitment to election security, saying, “We’ve aggressively pursued policies to ensure voting is secure and accurate, and we’re innovating to protect our elections from emerging technology like AI.”
He added, “In Oklahoma, every eligible citizen will have their vote counted and their voice heard.”
These actions reflect a growing national concern about election integrity and the accuracy of voter rolls.
While some argue that such purges are necessary to prevent fraud and ensure fair elections, others worry about the potential for eligible voters to be mistakenly removed from the rolls.
Oklahoma’s voter roll purge serves as a reminder of the ongoing debate surrounding election security.
Ohio recently ordered the purge of “non-citizens” from the state’s voter rolls, as previously reported by Resist the Mainstream.
Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose announced this move following a review that identified over 100 residents registered to vote despite lacking U.S. citizenship.
The impact of these measures on voter turnout and election outcomes remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: Oklahoma is taking bold steps to address concerns about election integrity head-on.
With over 450,000 names removed from the voter rolls, Oklahoma’s actions are likely to be closely watched by other states considering similar measures.
