Early voting set to start
Voters across the state may cast early ballots, making choices on medical marijuana and each party’s candidates for office.
Oklahoma’s early voting laws allow registered voters to visit their county election board Thursday through Saturday before each election.
Each ballot will contain State Question 788, which if adopted would create a system for medical marijuana in Oklahoma. Republican, Democratic and Libertarian voters will be able to chose statewide and local candidates for their party, and independents can request a ballot with Democratic candidates.
Election Day is Tuesday, June 26, but Oklahoma gives voters the option to cast in-person absentee ballots at their county election boards before each election on
Thursday and Friday between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., then on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The process is virtually the same as voting on Election Day, when polls are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
For those who aren’t registered to vote, it’s too late. The registration deadline was June 1. The deadline to vote in the Aug. 28 partisan runoff election is Aug. 3. It is widely believed the Republican governor’s race and several legislative contests will end up in a runoff.
Oklahomans can verify their voter status online and view sample ballots
at the Oklahoma State Election Board website.
Most legislators will face election contests this year, whether it’s during the primary or Nov. 7 general election. Just 19 lawmakers have no opponent.
Many vacant seats also must be filled after legislators resigned or were not eligible to run again because of term limits. There are 42 open seats, meaning almost a third of the lawmakers in the next Oklahoma Legislature will be new on the job when they reconvene in regular session next February.