National Holiday Doesn't Stop Early Tulsa Voting

By Tara Vreeland, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- Tulsans head to the polls Tuesday for the primary election which will lead to a new mayor. But early voting began on Friday, and the doors were open on Labor Day Holiday at the Election Board.

Many Tulsans took advantage of the short lines at the Election Board to vote early and absentee.

"If you can be in touch with high school students, you can be in touch with anybody," said Allison Wilson, a student at the University of Oklahoma.

Allison Wilson knows exactly who she is voting for:

"Tom Adelson," Wilson said. "I had the pleasure of having him as a teacher in high school for my political philosophy class."

Wilson almost didn't get a chance to cast her vote.

"In the hectic major of moving I completely forgot that the election was this week," said OU student Allison Wilson. "When I came home for Labor Day to visit my family - completely panicked because there is a candidate I really, really wanted to vote for, and luckily, I got to today."

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Early and absentee voting was for Republicans and Democrats only. Voters trickled in to the Election board to cast their ballot for mayoral nominee and city council primaries.

"Every election we vote early on Friday and Monday, said Patty Bryant, Election Board Secretary. "People come to the election board to do that, and coincidentally it's a holiday but because it's state law we are open today."

On the ballot: a successor for Mayor Kathy Taylor and 22 Candidates running for City Council.

"I just hope everything goes right or whoever wins, you know, does it right or hopes they can do it right," said early voter Dorothy Simpson.

The primaries will settle the council races in Districts 2, 5, and 8. A candidate from each party will move forward from Districts 4 and 6 to the general election. 

The incumbents in districts 1 and 7 were not challenged, so they are automatically re-elected.

The candidates for districts three and nine will go straight to the general election.

 "It doesn't matter what the election is, I think you should always vote," said Jeri Tucker, who was at the Tulsa County Election Board to cast her ballot. "If you don't vote, then you can't complain about anything.

"I think anyone who has strong feelings like I do, even if you don't, should at least exercise this right," said Allison Wilson, an OU student.

Regular voting at all standard precincts will take place from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday. The general election is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 10.