Know Your Ballot · Nonpartisan

Who Are These People on My Ballot?

A plain-language guide to every elected office you might see on an Oklahoma ballot — what each one does, where you'll run into it in everyday life, and how often it comes up for election.

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When you vote for the first time, the ballot can feel overwhelming — names you don't recognize, titles that sound official but unclear. That's normal, and it's fixable. Think of this as the menu before the meal: once you know what each office does, the rest makes more sense.

We don't tell you who to vote for. We just want you to know what you're voting on. Tap any office to expand it.

Federal

These officials represent Oklahoma in Washington, D.C.

U.S. Senator 6-year term · Oklahoma has 2 seats

Vote on federal laws and the national budget. Confirm or reject the president's picks for the U.S. Supreme Court, federal judgeships, and cabinet jobs. Approve treaties. Hold hearings and investigations.

Where you'll see itYou see this office at work in the federal laws and Supreme Court justices that shape the whole country.
How often it's upEach seat is up every 6 years. Oklahoma's two seats are in different election cycles, so they're never on the ballot at the same time.
U.S. Representative 2-year term · 5 districts, 1 each (by where you live)

Vote on federal laws, taxes, and spending. Sit on committees that shape policy like agriculture and defense. Help constituents directly with federal problems — a stuck passport, VA benefits, a Social Security holdup.

Where you'll see itYou'll deal with this office when a passport, VA claim, or Social Security issue gets stuck and you need help.
How often it's upOn the ballot every 2 years — all five seats at once.

Statewide

Elected by all Oklahoma voters. These run state government.

Governor 4-year term

Sign or veto bills, including line-item vetoes of the state budget. Appoint the heads of state agencies and fill vacancies on courts and boards. Command the Oklahoma National Guard. Grant paroles and commutations. Call the Legislature into special session.

Where you'll see itYou feel this office in nearly every state law that takes effect — or doesn't — and in how the state budget is set.
How often it's upOn the ballot every 4 years, alongside the other statewide offices.
Lieutenant Governor 4-year term

Step in as acting Governor when the Governor is out of state or unable to serve. Serve as President of the State Senate. Sit on numerous state boards and commissions, including tourism and economic development.

Where you'll see itYou'll notice this office in state tourism and economic-development efforts — and if the Governor ever can't serve.
How often it's upOn the ballot every 4 years, alongside the other statewide offices.
Attorney General 4-year term

Act as the state's lawyer — defend Oklahoma's laws in court and sue on the state's behalf. Run consumer protection, where Oklahomans file complaints about scams, fraud, and price gouging. Prosecute crimes like Medicaid fraud. Issue official legal opinions that state agencies follow.

Where you'll see itYou'll turn to this office when you've been scammed or defrauded and want to file a consumer complaint.
How often it's upOn the ballot every 4 years, alongside the other statewide offices.
State Treasurer 4-year term

Hold and invest the state's money and serve as Oklahoma's banker. Manage state debt. Run the Unclaimed Property program — the place where Oklahomans reclaim lost or forgotten money, old accounts, and uncashed checks.

Where you'll see itYou'll meet this office if you ever search Unclaimed Property for a forgotten account or uncashed check in your name.
How often it's upOn the ballot every 4 years, alongside the other statewide offices.
State Auditor & Inspector 4-year term

Audit the books of state agencies, all 77 counties, school districts, and other public bodies. Investigate suspected misuse of public money — sometimes at the request of citizens by petition. Publish the reports that show whether tax dollars were spent correctly.

Where you'll see itYou rely on this office every time you want to know whether your tax dollars were actually spent the way they should be.
How often it's upOn the ballot every 4 years, alongside the other statewide offices.
Commissioner of Labor 4-year term

Enforce state workplace safety and wage laws. Inspect regulated equipment like boilers. Handle wage-claim disputes between workers and employers. Enforce child labor rules.

Where you'll see itYou'll deal with this office if you're owed unpaid wages, or want to report an unsafe workplace.
How often it's upOn the ballot every 4 years, alongside the other statewide offices.
Insurance Commissioner 4-year term

License insurance companies and agents doing business in Oklahoma. Review insurance rates. Investigate complaints and claim disputes — where you turn if you believe an insurer treated you unfairly. Also license and regulate bail bondsmen.

Where you'll see itYou'll turn to this office when an insurer denies a claim you believe they should cover.
How often it's upOn the ballot every 4 years, alongside the other statewide offices.
Corporation Commissioner 6-year term · 3 commissioners, elected separately

Set the rates regulated utilities like OG&E and PSO can charge you for electricity and natural gas. Regulate oil and gas drilling and well safety. Oversee telephone utilities and underground petroleum storage tanks.

Where you'll see itYou notice this office every month you open your OG&E or PSO bill — they set those rates.
How often it's upThree seats, each up every 6 years on a staggered schedule — so one is usually on the ballot.
Supt. of Public Instruction 4-year term

Lead the State Department of Education. Distribute state funding among Oklahoma's school districts. Set academic standards and graduation requirements. Oversee teacher certification and statewide testing.

Where you'll see itYou feel this office in your kids' graduation requirements, statewide testing, and how their school is funded.
How often it's upOn the ballot every 4 years, alongside the other statewide offices.

State Legislature

These officials write Oklahoma's laws at the State Capitol.

State Senator 4-year term · 48 seats (~80,000 people each)

Write and pass state laws and the state budget — covering taxes, roads, schools, health care, and public safety. Confirm many of the Governor's appointments.

Where you'll see itYou feel this office in your state taxes, your roads, and the laws that govern daily life in Oklahoma.
How often it's upTerms are 4 years and staggered — about half the seats are up every 2 years. Whether yours is depends on your district.
State Representative 2-year term · 101 seats (~40,000 people each)

Write and pass state laws and the budget alongside the Senate. All tax and revenue bills must start in the House. Represent a smaller district, which makes them often the most reachable state official.

Where you'll see itYou can usually reach this office directly — they represent the fewest people, so they're the easiest state official to contact.
How often it's upEvery seat is on the ballot every 2 years.

County

Every Oklahoman lives in one of 77 counties. These officials handle services close to home.

County Commissioner 4-year term · 3 per county, 1 per district

Maintain county roads and bridges — the rural and two-lane roads outside city limits. Set the county budget. Manage county equipment, buildings, and employees. Handle drainage and local infrastructure.

Where you'll see itYou ride past this office's work on every county road and bridge outside the city limits.
How often it's up4-year terms, staggered across the three districts — so a seat is usually up. Whether yours is depends on your county.
County Assessor 4-year term

Determine the taxable value of every home, business, and piece of land in the county — the number your property tax bill is based on. Process homestead exemptions. Keep property maps and ownership records.

Where you'll see itYou meet this office in the value printed on your property tax statement — and in your homestead exemption.
How often it's upOn the ballot every 4 years in your county.
County Treasurer 4-year term

Collect property taxes and send that money out to schools, the county, cities, and other local entities. Handle delinquent taxes and tax sales. Manage the county's accounts.

Where you'll see itYou'll deal with this office every time you pay your property tax bill.
How often it's upOn the ballot every 4 years in your county.
County Sheriff 4-year term

Run the county jail. Provide law enforcement and patrol outside city limits. Serve warrants and court papers. Provide courthouse security and carry out court-ordered evictions and property sales.

Where you'll see itYou'll see this office patrolling outside city limits, running the county jail, and serving court papers.
How often it's upOn the ballot every 4 years in your county.
County Clerk 4-year term

Keep the county's official records — property deeds, mortgages, and liens. Handle county purchasing and payroll paperwork. Serve as secretary to the county commissioners.

Where you'll see itYou'll meet this office when you buy a home and your deed gets recorded.
How often it's upOn the ballot every 4 years in your county.
County Court Clerk 4-year term

Maintain all court case records and files. Collect court fines, fees, and costs. Issue marriage licenses and passports. Manage jury paperwork.

Where you'll see itYou'll meet this office when you get a marriage license, apply for a passport, or report for jury duty.
How often it's upOn the ballot every 4 years in your county.

Justice

Prosecutors and the judges who preside over local courts.

District Attorney 4-year term · 27 districts statewide

Decide which criminal charges to file and prosecute them in court. Run programs like drug court. Advise county officials. Handle juvenile cases and child-support enforcement.

Where you'll see itYou see this office at work in which crimes get charged in your community — and in programs like drug court.
How often it's upOn the ballot every 4 years in your district.
District & Associate District Judge 4-year term · Nonpartisan

Preside over the trials and hearings that touch everyday life — divorces and custody, evictions, lawsuits, criminal cases, probate, and protective orders. Set bail, rule on evidence, and issue sentences. Candidates don't run as Republican or Democrat.

Where you'll see itYou'll stand before this office for a divorce, a custody case, an eviction, a lawsuit, or jury duty.
How often it's upOn the ballot every 4 years. A race only appears when more than one candidate files.

Also on your ballot (not offices)

State Questions

Proposed changes to state law or the Oklahoma Constitution. You vote yes or no, and the result becomes law. All registered voters — including Independents — can vote on these.

Judicial Retention

For higher courts like the Supreme Court and Court of Criminal Appeals, no opponents appear. Instead, a yes/no question on whether to keep the judge. These show up on the November general ballot.