Oklahoma, advocacy groups reach agreement on voter rights

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – State officials in Oklahoma and voting rights advocates have announced an agreement to provide more voter registration access to Oklahoma citizens and stave off a potential lawsuit over the state’s compliance with federal voting laws.

Details of the settlement agreement were released on Thursday by the Oklahoma State Election Board and a group that had voiced concerns about Oklahoma’s compliance with the National Voter Registration Act of 1993.

A group of Tulsa-based nonprofits were concerned Oklahoma agencies that provide public assistance were not offering their clients enough opportunities to register to vote.

Among other things, the agreement requires officials with the Department of Human Services, Department of Health and the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to ask clients whether they want to register to vote and to assist them with registering.