Oklahoma election officials have removed more than 450,000 ineligible voters from the state’s rolls ahead of the November election, in an effort to safeguard the integrity of the vote.
The state’s extensive, Republican-led voter list maintenance process, which began in 2021, is designed to ensure that only eligible citizens participate in upcoming elections, as The Federalist reports.
The process resulted in the removal of 453,000 ineligible registrations, according to the Oklahoma State Election Board. Among those were 5,607 convicted felons, 14,993 duplicate registrations, 97,065 deceased voters, 143,682 individuals who had moved out of state, and 194,962 who had been classified as inactive voters.
Secretary of State Josh Cockroft stated that Oklahoma has taken serious steps to maintain the security of the state’s voting systems. “We’ve aggressively pursued policies to ensure voting is secure and accurate. Every eligible citizen will have their vote counted and their voice heard,” Cockroft said.
The removal process is part of the state's regular voter roll maintenance efforts. Officials use technology, including artificial intelligence, to enhance security and accuracy. Oklahoma’s June primaries saw a 100% verification rate of voters, a clear indication of the state's commitment to maintaining clean voter rolls.
Paul Ziriax, the State Election Board secretary, highlighted the importance of such measures. “Our laws and procedures are designed to ensure the integrity and security of our elections,” Ziriax said. He also pointed to successful recounts and post-election audits, which have demonstrated the reliability of Oklahoma’s election systems.
Oklahoma is not alone in these efforts. Other states, including Texas, Virginia, Alabama, and Ohio, have recently made significant strides in cleaning up their voter rolls. For example, Texas removed over 1.1 million ineligible voters, and Virginia’s department of elections recently identified over 6,300 noncitizens on its rolls.
In November 2023, Oklahoma established the Campaign Finance and Election Threats Task Force. This task force, which was formed under Gov. Kevin Stitt, aims to address vulnerabilities in the election system and protect the fairness of the voting process. “This Task Force was charged with investigating the most critical aspect of our republic: ensuring our elections are free and fair,” Stitt said. The group has since proposed several recommendations to enhance election security.
Among these recommendations are random post-election audits, a ban on ranked-choice voting, and stricter regulations surrounding the use of artificial intelligence in campaigns. They have also called for changes to contribution limits for non-corporate entities and a ban on foreign campaign expenditures.
Another notable recommendation from the Task Force includes a partnership with Native American tribes to enforce election laws more effectively. This initiative is seen as crucial in strengthening voter integrity, particularly in areas with significant tribal populations.
Stitt and other state officials have emphasized that these measures are necessary to build public trust and ensure the accuracy of election outcomes. “Voting is our most sacred duty as Americans -- and every Oklahoman wants to know their vote is securely cast and properly counted,” Stitt remarked. The task force's efforts align with the state's broader focus on enhancing voter security through technology and rigorous verification procedures. These steps reflect a growing national trend, as states across the U.S. address concerns over voter fraud and election security.
Oklahoma’s efforts are part of a nationwide push to safeguard the voting process. Other states have similarly taken action to clean up their voter rolls and increase election security. Alabama recently found over 3,000 potential noncitizens registered to vote, and Ohio discovered more than 100 noncitizens on its rolls earlier this year.
Despite concerns in some parts of the country about disenfranchisement, Oklahoma officials have maintained that their efforts are aimed solely at ensuring that every vote cast is from an eligible citizen. Ziriax reiterated that the state's measures "have proven the accuracy of Oklahoma’s voting system" through both recounts and audits.
