State Election Board requests up to $35 million for voting-system replacement, plans statewide absentee tracking

Paul Zierich, secretary of the State Election Board, told the Appropriations and Budget Subcommittee that the agency is preparing a major technology refresh and other operational changes after a record-high 2024 turnout.

Zierich said Oklahoma had more than 2.4 million registered voters ahead of the 2024 general election and that in-person absentee voting (now commonly called early voting) reached about 293,000 ballots — more than double previous levels. "There were almost 300,000, about 293,000 votes cast by that method," he said.

Zierich urged the committee to consider long-term funding to replace the state's voting system. The agency's current estimate is about $35,000,000 to purchase, implement and provide initial maintenance for a new system; he said the final cost will be determined by a competitive request for…