AROUND THE COUNTY

STALKING AWARENESS

Osage Nation planning Jan. 21 training session

The Osage Nation Family Violence Prevention Department is planning a free training session to help law officers, advocates for victims, and concerned citizens learn to cope effectively with the various behaviors that stalkers exhibit.

The free training session is scheduled from 8 a.m. until noon Tuesday, Jan. 21, at Law Building Room 121, 1071 Grandview, Pawhuska. Registration is scheduled from 8-8:15 a.m. on Jan. 21. Then, the first session of the workshop is scheduled to cover “Identifying and Responding to Stalking,” and the second session is to address “Stalking 2.0: The Use of Technology to Stalk.”

The training is CLEET accredited, so it will count toward professional education requirements for law officers. For more information on the workshop, call 918-287-5253

VOTER REGISTRATION

Deadline is this Friday for Feb. 11 elections

Friday, Jan. 17, 2020, is the last day to apply for voter registration in order to be eligible to vote in the Feb. 11, 2020, City of Pawhuska Primary and Wynona I-30 Special School Elections, Osage County Election Board Secretary Kelly Chouteau said.

Chouteau said that persons who are United States citizens, residents of Oklahoma, and at least 18 years old may apply to become registered voters.

Persons who have never been registered to vote before or who are not currently registered in the county of their residence and persons who are registered but who need to change their registration information may apply by filling out and mailing an Oklahoma Voter Registration Application form in time for it to be postmarked no later than midnight Friday, Jan. 17, 2020.

Chouteau explained that applications postmarked after that time will still be accepted and processed; however, the applications will not be approved until after Feb. 11, 2020.

The County Election Board responds in writing to every person who submits an application for voter registration. The response is either a voter identification card listing the new voter’s precinct number and polling place location or a letter that explains the reason or reasons the application for voter registration was not approved. Chouteau said that any person who has submitted a voter registration application and who has not received a response within 30 days should contact the County Election Board office at 918-287-3036 or email OsageCounty@elections.ok.gov.

Oklahoma Voter Registration Application forms are available at the County Election Board office located at 630 Kihekah Ave, Pawhuska, and at most post offices, tag agencies, and public libraries in the county. Chouteau said that applications also are available at our website www.osage.okcounties.org or the state website www.elections.ok.gov, and voters can check their registration status at www.ok.gov/elections/Voter_Info/Online_Voter_Tool/.

ABSENTEE BALLOTS FOR FEB. 11 ELECTIONS

Get your applications in now

Voters in Osage County who want to have absentee ballots mailed to them for the Feb. 11, 2020, City of Pawhuska Primary & Wynona I-30 Special School Elections should apply now, County Election Board Secretary Kelly Chouteau said. Although the County Election Board can accept applications for absentee ballots until 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2020, Chouteau urged voters who want to vote by absentee ballot to apply early.

Absentee ballot application forms are available at the County Election Board office located at 630 Kihekah Ave., Pawhuska, Oklahoma. An online version of the form can be filled out and submitted electronically at: www.elections.ok.gov. A print form can also be downloaded at that address.

Voters who have requested an absentee ballot can track their ballot at http://www.ok.gov/elections/Voter_Info/Online_Voter_Tool/.

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

Chouteau said any registered voter may vote by absentee ballot in any election in which he/she is eligible to vote. It is not necessary to give a reason for voting absentee.

“While anyone can vote absentee without giving a reason, the law still provides several excuses, and it is to the advantage of some voters to use one of them,” Chouteau said.

By stating one of the following reasons on their applications, absentee voters can activate special conditions that make it easier for them to use absentee ballots. The reasons are:

Voters who are physically incapacitated and voters who care for physically incapacitated persons who cannot be left unattended may vote absentee. They may apply only by mail, by fax, by email, online by accessing http:/www.ok.gov/elections/Voter_Info/Online_Voter_Tool/ or via an agent who is at least 16 years of age and who is not employed by or related within the third degree of consanguinity or affinity to any person whose name appears on the ballot.

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. They may apply only by mail, by fax, by email, online by accessing http:/www.ok.gov/elections/Voter_Info/Online_Voter_Tool/ or via an agent who is at least 16 years of age and who is not employed by or related within the third degree of consanguinity or affinity to any person whose name appears on the ballot.

Military personnel and residents of the county living overseas and the spouses and dependents of each group are eligible receive absentee ballots. These voters may apply only by mail, fax, or by email. Military personnel should contact the Voting Service Officers in their units for application forms and additional information or visit the Federal Voting Assistance Program website (www.fvap.gov/oklahoma) for more information and instructions. Residents of Oklahoma living overseas can obtain the same materials from any United States military installation and from United States Embassies and Consulates as well as on the FVAP website.

For more election-related information, call the Osage County Election Board at 918-287-3036, e-mail at OsageCounty@elections.ok.gov or visit www.elections.ok.gov or www.osage.okcounties.org

CLOSED PRECINCTS

Wynona Public Schools closes some precincts

Osage County Election Board Secretary Kelly Chouteau has announced that the Wynona I03057 (I-30) School has opted to close Precincts 108, 112 and 306 in Osage County for its Wynona I03057 (I-30) Special School Election scheduled on Feb. 11, 2020.

State law allows a school district to close a precinct if it’s not entirely within the district’s boundaries and if there are fewer than 100 registered voters in that part of the precinct that is located in the district. There are 19 voters in precinct 108, 0 voters in precinct 112 and 12 voters in precinct 306 that are located in the boundaries of the Wynona I03057 (I-30) School District.

Voters who are registered in Precincts 108, 112 and 306 will receive an application for absentee ballots from the County Election Board. They can fill out, sign and return the application form to the County Election Board to have a ballot mailed to them. Applications for absentee ballots must be received by the County Election Board no later than 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2020, for this election. Voters who receive their absentee ballots by mail must return the voted ballot to the County Election Board by mail. Absentee ballots must be in the Osage County Election Board’s hands by 7 p.m. on election day to be counted.

These voters also may vote by in-person absentee at the Osage County Election Board office from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2020, or Friday, Feb. 7, 2020.

Any registered voters in Precincts 108, 112 and 306 who believe that he or she may reside in the Wynona I03057 (I-30) School District and who have not yet received an absentee ballot application from the Osage County Election Board should call the office immediately at 918-287-3036.

OSAGE COUNTY REPUBLICANS

County GOP sets 2020 kickoff for Saturday

The Osage County Republican Party has scheduled a 2020 Election Season Kickoff for 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 18, at the Osage County Interlocal Co-op, 207 E. Main Street, Hominy. Special guests for this meeting are to include David McLain, the state party chairman, and Daniel Navejas, the chairman for Congressional District 3. If you have questions, call 918-853-6371.