Candidates Make Final Push To Turn Out Voters

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Candidates and their supporters across the state are making their final push to turn out voters in an election in which many voters are expected to stay home.<br/><br/>With an incumbent

Thursday, November 2nd 2006, 4:10 pm

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Candidates and their supporters across the state are making their final push to turn out voters in an election in which many voters are expected to stay home.

With an incumbent governor and no presidential candidate or US Senate race in Oklahoma, election officials expect fewer than half of the state's 2-million registered voters to make it to the polls.

State Election Board Secretary Michael Clingman says he's hopeful that between 850,000 and 900,000 voters will head to the polls Tuesday. He says there's generally more voter interest during a race for an open governor's seat, and that an incumbent generally suppresses turnout.

With several tight races expected to determine whether Democrats maintain their slim 26-to-22 majority in the state Senate, political strategists say energizing voters will be the difference in several contests on Tuesday.