State congressional and legislative redistricting impacts voters across CNO reservation

DURANT, OK – Every ten years state and federal legislative bodies including the United States House of Representatives, the Oklahoma Senate, and the Oklahoma House of Representatives, go through a redistricting process after the federal census to enact new congressional and state legislative district boundaries. On November 22, 2021, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt signed new congressional and legislative district maps into law.

The new congressional and legislative district boundaries will impact voters in state and federal elections beginning in 2022. Voters across the 10½ counties comprising the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma have been impacted by the redistricting process and may be voting in different districts than in previous years. For example, the city of Poteau was previously split between House Districts 3 and 15 but is now fully encompassed within House District 3. After the 2020 census, Oklahoma was apportioned five seats in the United States House of Representatives; however, those districts have been reapportioned for the 2022 election cycle.

The State of Oklahoma has compiled and released maps showing the new boundaries which will be effective until the year 2030 after the next federal census. Importantly, the State Election Board will conduct the 2022 primary and general elections according to the new district lines.

Voters who wish to access the new congressional district maps for the Oklahoma House of Representatives can find them online on the District Maps and Reports (2022-2030) webpage.

The new Oklahoma Senate district maps can be accessed at the District Maps webpage.

The new United States House of Representatives district maps can be found online on the Congressional District Maps webpage.

Oklahoma residents who want to vote in Primary Election on June 18, 2022, must register before the deadline on June 3, 2022. To vote in the Runoff Primary Election on August 8, 2022, potential voters must register before the deadline on July 29, 2022. To be eligible to vote in the General Election on November 8, 2022, potential voters must register on or before October 14, 2022. Oklahoma voters can register to vote online by following the instructions online at the State Election Board’s Voter Registration in Oklahoma webpage.

Voter registration applications are also available at each County Election Board and at most Oklahoma tag agencies, post offices, and public libraries, according to the Oklahoma State Election Board. Oklahoma residents who are at least 18 years old and who are citizens of the United States may register to vote. Oklahoma residents who are U.S. citizens may pre-register to vote when they are 17 ½, however, they may not vote until after their 18th birthday. Persons convicted of a felony may register to vote after he or she has fully served any sentence, including any term of incarceration, parole, or supervision, or completed the period of probation ordered by any court. To find out more about how to register and registration requirements, visit the Oklahoma State Election Board online or you County Election. A list of County Election Boards is available online within the County Election Boardin Information document.