The voter registration deadline is Jan. 15 for the Feb. 9 election for the Oklahoma City Council seats in Wards 1, 3, and 4.
Voters in those Wards registered at their current address are already eligible. See a Ward map at okc.gov/WardMap.
To check or update your registration status, use the Oklahoma State Election Board’s OK Voter Portal at oklahoma.gov/elections/ovp.
To register to vote, use the portal’s voter registration wizard to complete your application online, then print, sign and return it to your local county election board. You can also download a voter registration application at oklahoma.gov/elections, or get one at your county election board, post offices, tag agencies, libraries and other public locations.
The nonpartisan election will decide who represents those Wards on the Council for the next four-year term, which begins in April.
The City Council has nine members: the Mayor, who is elected citywide, and one member from each of Oklahoma City’s eight Wards. They serve part-time at the head of the City’s Council-Manager form of government. The Mayor’s annual salary is $24,000, and each Council member’s annual salary is $12,000.
About the election
Candidates, listed in the order in which they appear on the ballot, are:
Ward 1
- Jay Sherrill
- Susan Kay Parisi
- Shay Varnell
- Bradley Carter
- Megan Scott
- Joshua W. Debolt
- Richard Thomas Buchanan
- Nana Abram Dankwa
- Bill Fleming
Ward 3
- Kelli Payne
- Barbara Young
- Tim Long
- Trey Bishop
- Jessica Martinez-Brooks
- Allen Swanda
Ward 4
- Sam Wargin Grimaldo
- Todd Stone (incumbent)
- Larry Hopper
The Feb. 9 primary election determines whether a runoff is necessary. If a candidate earns more than half the votes in their Ward on Feb. 9, they are elected to office. If no candidate earns more than half the votes, the two candidates with the most votes in that Ward advance to a decisive runoff on April 6.
Winners take office April 13. Incumbent Councilwoman Nikki Nice was the only candidate who filed to run in Ward 7, and she will also begin a new term April 13.
Recent voter-approved amendments to the Oklahoma City Charter do not apply to the 2021 City Council election. The state Election Board’s certification of election results, and the Governor of Oklahoma’s formal acceptance of the City Charter amendments, had yet to occur before the Council called the election.
The 2021 election takes place under existing City ordinances, and federal and state law, like all recent City Council elections.
Voting information
Voters who have disabilities can find more information about voter assistance in Oklahoma at oklahoma.gov/elections.
State law requires proof of identity to vote. Acceptable forms of ID are a voter ID card, driver’s license or another form of ID issued by the federal government, state government or federally recognized tribal government. Voters may also cast a provisional ballot by proving their identity with a signed, sworn affidavit, which is available at the polling station.
The deadline to request an absentee ballot to vote by mail in the Feb. 9 primary election is 5 p.m. Feb. 2, although the U.S. Postal Service recommends requesting it by Jan. 25. You can request an absentee ballot using the voter portal at oklahoma.gov/elections/ovp, or download an absentee ballot request form at oklahoma.gov/elections to print, sign and return to your county election board.
The Postal Service recommends mailing your completed absentee ballot by Feb. 2 if voting by mail. You can also return a completed absentee ballot in person to your local county election board.
Overseas voters, including military members, can get more information about overseas absentee voting at oklahoma.gov/elections.
Early voting is 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Feb. 4-5 at your local county election board:
Regular voting is 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Feb. 9 at your usual polling location. Find your polling location on your voter ID card, or using the voter portal at oklahoma.gov/elections/ovp.
EMBARK bus and OKC Streetcar service will be free on Election Day to help get voters to the polls. Visit embarkok.com or okcstreetcar.com to plan your trip.