Elections; conduct of elections; straight-party voting; effective date.

HB 1985 eliminates "straight-party voting" in Oklahoma elections, requiring voters to select candidates individually instead of choosing a party to vote for all candidates on the ballot. The bill amends election code sections to specify that a valid vote must mark individual candidates or issues, and ballots with multiple party selections will be void for party offices. It takes effect on November 1, 2025, directly affecting voters and election officials by changing how ballots are marked and counted. The key change removes the option for voters to cast a single vote for an entire party ticket.