Early voting began in Oklahoma on Thursday with many reports of long lines of voters ready to cast their ballots in the November General Election. On the first day, it appears more than 50,000 voters wanted to get their balloting done early.
It didn’t seem to follow any pattern.
For instance in Adair County, officials received a total of 321 absentee in-person votes on Thursday. Republicans led the charge with 157 votes. Democrats cast 128 votes. Thirty-four Independents and two Libertarians also voted in Adair County on Thursday.
Bryan County took in 690 in-person votes. There were 393 Republicans, 230 Democrats, 54 Independents and two Libertarians providing their ballots on Thursday.
The two major urban counties received a wave of voters. In Oklahoma County, long lines of cars formed in the morning as 3,979 voters waited in the rain. Democrats made up most of the voters at 2,126. There were 1,392 Republicans, 441 Independents and 20 Libertarians voting. Tulsa County, which is holding its in-person voting at Drillers Stadium, attracted a similar number of voters. However, the political affiliations were a little more even. Tulsa County recorded a total of 3,268 votes with 1,409 Democrats, 1,391 Republicans, 443 Independents and 25 Libertarians making up the ballot totals.
The Oklahoma State Election Board says the first day brought out 50,203 total votes. Republicans led the way with 28,380 ballots cast. Democrats had 17,227 early voters on the first day. Independents made up 4,417 voters, while Libertarians cast 179 ballots on Thursday.
Absentee, In-Person voting continues at county election boards through Saturday. Friday early voting takes place from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturday’s hours are 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
