ON THE BALLOT

Heavy turnout possible as Oklahomans vote on Rx marijuana, governor

All signs point to heavy turnout as voters head to the polls Tuesday to pass judgment on medical marijuana and a raft of candidates for state and local offices. Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. The ballot question on marijuana is expected to be the big draw, while the race to replace Gov. Mary Fallin begins Tuesday with Republican, Democratic and Libertarian primaries.

Primaries for attorney general, lieutenant governor, auditor and inspector, labor commissioner and other statewide races are also on the ballot.

About three dozen incumbents in the state Legislature face challenges on Tuesday, and there are open seat legislative races all over the state.

Early absentee voting by mail and in person this year has far eclipsed that of 2014, the last election with gubernatorial and other statewide races on the ballot.

By midday on Monday, 73,631 people had cast absentee ballots by mail or in person. In 2014, it was slightly more than 22,000.

The surge in absentee voting follows major increases in voter registration and candidate filing this year.

“That’s great news that we’re seeing a much larger turnout there,” Paul Ziriax, secretary of the Oklahoma State Election Board, said Monday.

“We’ve seen a surge in voter registration, of course we had a modern record for the number of candidates filing for office. And I think when you look at the fact that there’s a state question on the ballot, you have a number of open statewide seats — there just generally seems to be more interest in this election than maybe the one four years ago.

“And I am certainly very hopeful that leads to higher turnout on election day because as Election Board secretary, what I want is people to get registered and to vote.”

Democratic primaries are open to independent voters. Republican and Libertarian primaries are open only to those registered with the respective parties.

Voters trying to figure out their polling place on Tuesday can use the Election Board’s Online Voter Tool at ok.gov.elections.

Ziriax said election results from absentee voting should be posted within a half-hour after the polls close and that most of the results should be in by 10 p.m.

After the marijuana question, the most closely watched results will likely be in the Republican gubernatorial primary. Some of the candidates have been campaigning for more than a year, and

three have emerged as favorites: Lt. Gov. Todd Lamb, Tulsa businessman Kevin Stitt and former Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett.

None of the three is expected to receive the 50 percent plus one vote necessary to claim the nomination without a runoff.

Runoff primaries are scheduled for Aug. 28.

Lamb made stops in Edmond, Stillwater, Perry and Ponca City on Monday and is set to cast his vote Tuesday morning in Oklahoma City. Cornett met with Oklahoma City volunteers and attended several activities on Monday and is heading to Tulsa on Tuesday after casting his ballot. Stitt went to western Oklahoma on Monday and is

planning to spend Tuesday in Tulsa.

On the Democratic side in the gubernatorial race, former Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson is favored against former state Sen. Connie Johnson, of Oklahoma City. The primary has only two candidates, so the vote on Tuesday will decide the nomination for the fall election.

The Libertarian candidates for governor are Chris Powell, Rex Lawhorn and Joe Exotic.

Fallin, a Republican, can't run for re-election because of term limits.

The governor is expected to call the Legislature into special session if the medical marijuana question is approved so lawmakers can work out a regulatory framework.