Oklahoma Governor Advocates for State Control Over Elections

WHO:

AP News - Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt

AP News - President Donald Trump

AP News - Maryland Governor Wes Moore

WHAT:

AP News - Stitt is hosting the National Governors Association meeting.

AP News - Stitt expressed that states should control their own elections and warned against federalizing elections.

AP News - Stitt stated, "I don’t think that we should federalize the elections at all. I believe that is a state issue."

AP News - Stitt mentioned that all absentee ballots in Oklahoma must be notarized and submitted by Election Day.

WHERE:

AP News - The National Governors Association meeting is taking place in Oklahoma City.

WHEN:

AP News - Stitt is turning over leadership of the National Governors Association to Wes Moore during this meeting.

WHY:

AP News - Stitt believes that a large federal government contributes to the country's tense political climate.

AP News - Stitt emphasized the importance of states having different values and philosophies, stating, "It’s OK that the states are different and they have different values and philosophies."

HOW:

AP News - Stitt described the process in Oklahoma where absentee and early votes are counted immediately after polls close at 7 PM.

(UPDATED July 31, 2026 16:33 UTC)

Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt is hosting the National Governors Association meeting in Oklahoma City, where he is set to hand over leadership to Maryland Governor Wes Moore. During the meeting, Stitt emphasized that states should control their own elections, stating, "I don’t think that we should federalize the elections at all. I believe that is a state issue," while also noting that all absentee ballots in Oklahoma must be notarized and submitted by Election Day. He highlighted the importance of states having different values and philosophies, asserting that a large federal government contributes to the country's tense political climate.