A. When any county, municipality, school district or other governmental entity authorizes an election to be conducted by the county election board, the secretary of the county election board shall, not less than thirty-five (35) days prior to the election, submit to the governmental entity for whom the election is authorized:

1. An itemized estimate of the number of precinct officials and absentee voting board members necessary for the election; and

2. An estimate of the compensation and employer's share of any benefits to be provided to each precinct official and absentee voting board member.

B. Not less than fifteen (15) days prior to the election, the county, municipality, school district or other governmental entity authorizing the election shall submit to the secretary of the county election board an amount of funds equal to the estimate of compensation and benefits for precinct officials and absentee voting board members as provided in subsection A of this section. If such amount is not submitted ten (10) days prior to the election, the secretary of the county election board shall not be required to hold the election. Upon receipt of the funds, the secretary of the county election board shall deposit the funds in the County Election Board Special Depository Account.

C. The secretary of the county election board shall issue vouchers for the compensation and benefits of precinct officials and absentee voting board members from the County Election Board Special Depository Account, pursuant to Section 681 et seq. of Title 19 of the Oklahoma Statutes. The secretary of the county election board shall provide the vouchers to the precinct inspector, except the voucher for the inspector and absentee voting board members, at the time the inspector receives supplies and ballots for the election. The vouchers shall be distributed to the appropriate precinct officials upon closing of the polls on the day of the election and to absentee voting board members upon completion of their prescribed duties, according to procedures to be prescribed by the Secretary of the State Election Board. Each precinct official shall sign a form prescribed by the Secretary of the State Election Board acknowledging receipt of compensation and benefits. The inspector shall return the form, together with any unclaimed vouchers, to the county election board, together with the results of the election and other supplies and materials. At such time, the secretary of the county election board shall provide a voucher for payment to the inspector. The secretary of the county election board shall return any unclaimed vouchers to the county treasurer within seven (7) days after the election. If any additional vouchers for compensation and benefits are required, the secretary of the county election board shall issue such vouchers not less than seven (7) days after the election. In no event shall compensation be made until after services have been rendered.

D. As soon as practicable after conducting an election for a municipality, school district, or other governmental entity, except the state or county, the secretary of the county election board shall submit a claim to the governing body of the entity for whom the election was conducted. The claim shall itemize all expenses associated with the election, and shall deduct any amount paid by the municipality, school district or other governmental entity for the compensation and employer's share of any benefits provided to precinct officials and absentee voting board members pursuant to the provisions of subsection B of this section. Upon receipt of such itemized claim, the governing body shall make payment to the county election board within thirty (30) days. Upon receipt of the payment, the secretary of the county election board shall deposit the payment in the County Election Board Special Depository Account. The secretary shall disburse payments for the expenses incurred in the election, pursuant to Section 681 et seq. of Title 19 of the Oklahoma Statutes.

E. The State Election Board shall provide the compensation and employer's share of benefits for precinct officials and absentee voting board members in the payment made to the respective counties for elections for which the precinct officials and absentee voting board members are paid by the State Election Board, in the same manner as provided in subsections A and B of this section. For the foregoing elections, the county shall place in the County Election Board Special Depository Account an amount of funds equal to the county election board's share for each precinct official at each election in the same manner as provided in subsections A and B of this section. The Secretary of the State Election Board shall prescribe a procedure by which the State Election Board or the county shall be reimbursed for any overpayment made to a county election board for compensation and employer's share of benefits paid to precinct officials and absentee voting board members.

Added by Laws 1984, c. 210, § 4, operative Jan. 1, 1985. Amended by Laws 1986, c. 1, § 1, eff. July 1, 1986; Laws 1995, c. 290, § 3, eff. Nov. 1, 1995; Laws 1998, c. 357, § 6, eff. Jan. 1, 1999; Laws 1999, c. 88, § 3, emerg. eff. April 13, 1999; Laws 2019, c. 491, § 13, eff. Nov. 1, 2019.