Election results are in! Markwayne Mullin's shocking win and what it means for absentee voting in Oklahoma

Markwayne Mullin, the newly appointed Secretary of Homeland Security, recently secured a remarkable victory in the 2022 special senatorial election, capturing 61.8% of the vote. With over 700,000 votes cast, his win significantly overshadowed the closest challenger, former U.S. Representative Kendra Horn. Notably, 30,000 of Mullin’s votes came from absentee mail-in ballots, which in Oklahoma aren’t without their own set of rules.

Absentee voting in the Sooner State requires strict proof of identity, including a notarized affidavit and an identification number. Just as voters were gearing up for a smooth process, the recently passed SAVE Act threatens to disrupt this by adding documentary proof of citizenship requirements for registration. For many Oklahomans, this could mean digging out a passport or birth certificate, which not everyone has on hand.

While Mullin’s landslide victory shows strong support, the new voting laws could complicate future elections. With only about a third of Oklahomans holding a valid passport, the implications for accessibility are alarming. Wouldn’t it be ironic if the red tape wraps around voter rights like a bow? This exciting election triumph could become a hurdle race for future voters—let’s see how this unfolds!