Oklahoma Early Voting Begins With Candidates Casting Ballots

It's the first day of statewide early voting for next week’s primary and in Tulsa, candidates were out early casting their ballots.

"And now, to be here voting and see my name on the ballot is kinda surreal,” mayoral candidate GT Bynum said.

Bynum showed up bright and early Thursday morning to cast his ballot. He's facing incumbent Tulsa mayor Dewey Bartlett in the election.

Bynum says it took a lot of work leading up to this day.

"Back in November, December, making the decision to run, laying the groundwork and then in the last several weeks, just to see everything start to fall into place, all the volunteers that have been coming out,” Bynum said.

Oklahoma State Representative Regina Goodwin also has been waiting for this day.

"It's an exciting day, wanna be first," Goodwin said.

She was first to cast her ballot at the Tulsa County Election Board on Thursday morning. Goodwin is running against Jonathan Townsend in hopes of keeping her district 73 seat.

Goodwin says no matter who you're voting for, it's your duty to take part in the process, and the earlier you do it, the better.

"When you wake up and you're walking around and you're engaged in this city, you're involved in politics," she said.

Candidates have spent months campaigning, and now, they say it's all about getting voters to the polls.

"There are no weekends at this point,” Bynum said. “No days off. We'll take days off after the election."

Polls for early voting are open from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 9 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday.