Election Boxscore
GAUGING BY GOOGLE SEARCHES
Oklahoma voters have their work cut out for them when it comes to researching candidates and state questions ahead of the Nov. 8 election — which is 43 days away.
Google searches provide just one way to gauge which issues voters are paying the most attention to. In recent weeks State Question 777 (Right to Farm) has led all state questions in Web searches, according to Google Analytics. SQ 779 (education sales tax) has been the second most searched state question, but SQ 792 (alcohol reform) has shot up in recent days.
Those three state questions also appear to have the most organized support and opposition. Groups like Yes on 792, Yes for 779 and organizations on either side of SQ 777 have done the most campaigning across the state. SOME CONSIDER BLANK BALLOT David Laughlin is a Republican living in Comanche who said he will definitely vote in November, but he is leaning toward leaving the ballot for president blank.
“Hillary (Clinton) doesn’t have the conservative credentials, but Donald Trump is not necessarily conservative,” Laughlin, 28, said. “The rhetoric from his campaign turns you off. To me it’s contrary to conservatism.”
Nearly 8 percent of voters in Oklahoma are undecided when it comes to the presidential race, according to a SoonerPoll survey released last week. Of undecided voters, 20 percent said they may vote for everything other than president.
“To me the lesser of two evils is Donald Trump,” Laughlin said. “But at the end of the day, the lesser of two evils is still an evil.”
EVANGELICAL VOTER
Oklahoma is home to a large number of evangelicals — seventh highest rate nationally, according to a 2015 report from the Public Religion Research Institute — so it isn’t surprising that evangelicals make up a large number of the state’s voting population.
Fifty-four percent of likely Oklahoma voters identify as evangelical, according to SoonerPoll. More than 63 percent of likely voters say they attend religious services at least once a month.
Trump’s lead in Oklahoma is fueled largely from support of evangelical voters, as 62 percent told SoonerPoll they plan to support the Republican nominee. Just 23 percent of evangelical voters in Oklahoma said they will vote for Clinton.
VOTER THOUGHTS
Patty Marnix, 54, of Midwest City, discusses her vote for president:
“My husband and I struggle. I have different degrees, and I should not be struggling. I have voted for Democrats and Republicans in the past, but this year I’m voting for Trump. I just think we need someone who gets our problems and Hillary doesn’t get it.”
UPCOMING COVERAGE
The first of three presidential debates takes place Monday, and NewsOK.com will have instant reaction from voters who will be watching the debate at The Oklahoman’s studio.
Other special election coverage includes live chats with readers who will converse with reporters about candidates, state questions and other issues. Chat times include: •10 a.m. Oct. 10 •7 p.m. Oct. 17 •7 p.m. Oct. 24 •2 p.m. Oct. 31 •9 a.m. Nov. 7