Early voting begins Thursday, March 27, for voters in Okmulgee County. Voters who will not be able to make it to the polls on Election Day have the option of voting early at their County Election Board.

According to Okmulgee County Election Board Secretary Ashley Carnes, early voting is open to all voters. “You do not need to provide an excuse to vote early,” Carnes said. “Oklahoma allows early voting for all elections conducted by the County Election Board or State Election Board from school board and municipal elections to state and federal elections. This is a great option for those who will be out of town on Election Day or who want to avoid long lines.”

Early voting is available on Thursday, March 27, and Friday, March 28, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Okmulgee County Courthouse, Room 102, located at 314 W. 7th Street, Okmulgee. Carnes reminds voters that early voting is not available at polling locations.

Some voters may need assistance to vote because they are blind or visually disabled, physically disabled or infirmed or illiterate. Such individuals may request to have an assistant or vote privately and independently using the ATI device attached to the voting device. Those who require assistance should talk to their precinct official or contact the County Election Board directly for instructions.

April 1 is a multi-district election with 11 entities. Many voters may be eligible for only one ballot, while others may be eligible for a total of four ballots, depending on the district and precinct. To view the ballot or ballots for which you are eligible to vote, visit the OK Voter Portal or contact the election board office.

List of candidates and offices on the April 1 election: • Oklahoma State Senator District 8 – David Nelson (R) & Bryan Logan (R)

• County Commissioner District 1 General – Ernie Ferreira (R), Barbarbra Cooks (D) & Chip Smalley (I)

• Beggs Public Schools Office 5 – Melanie Harvey & Jessie Spring

• Okmulgee Public Schools Office 5 – Krystal Bohannon & Leslie Keith Baldridge

• Checotah Public Schools Office 5 – Christie Bobo & Mickey Medley

• City of Beggs Mayor – Gary Teurman & Roger Dale Merrill

• City of Henryetta Councilmember at Large Shawn Buzan & Tristan Demmitt

• City of Henryetta Councilmember Ward 4 Buck Sheward & Jennifer Munholland

• City of Morris Councilmember Ward 2 – Matt Sharp & Sonny Lamb

• Haskell Public Schools Office 5 – Colton Schooley & David W. Magee

• Indian Capital Tech Center Office 5 – Ginger Knight & Andrew Theodore

• Weleetka Public Schools Office 5 – Linda Moore & Shawn Ray Brownlee

• Weleetka Public Schools – Proposition 1 & Proposition 2 For election questions, please contact the County Election Board at 918-756-2365 or Okmulgee-County@elections.ok.gov.