Lonely Tulsa County election precinct

Tulsa experienced heavy voter turnout at the polls on Tuesday, but not at precinct 551. You see, that precinct is just outside the city limits. So even though it was open Tuesday, you couldn't vote

Tuesday, April 4th 2006, 9:54 am

By: News On 6

Tulsa experienced heavy voter turnout at the polls on Tuesday, but not at precinct 551. You see, that precinct is just outside the city limits. So even though it was open Tuesday, you couldn't vote for mayor there.

News on 6 reporter Steve Berg took at look at the lonely precinct.

The voting booths are set up, a fresh roll of "I voted" stickers are ready and there's a book with about 600 registered voters. But none of them, not a single one, can vote for mayor. Worker: "The only thing you can vote on today is the Owasso schools." Voter: "Oh."

"Well, because they're not in the city limits." Loyd Ollan says it sometimes takes a lot of explaining. They're in Tulsa County, but they're not in the city of Tulsa. So they're here for statewide elections, county elections, or in Tuesday's case, an Owasso School proposition, but not many of Tuesday's would-be voters were in the Owasso school district. Loyd Ollan: "I believe we've had two." They say a lot of the people that come in are probably just driving by and get confused by the sign, which is understandable, because it sure looks like you can vote here. "We've had a number of people stop by. They just can't vote."

Larry Crandall: "Apparently we don't get to vote for the mayor then." Nancy: "That was disappointing, but I guess it's alright, what can we do?" If its not weird enough, the precinct does have one sliver of city property, a 50-foot-wide utility easement, which means they have to be here even during city-only elections, like the recent primary, when "nobody" in precinct 551 could vote. Loyd Ollan: "That was a lonely day."

Such is life in the lonely precinct. Nancy: "I just hope we get to vote for President." Larry Crandall: "Yeah." Nancy: "We will?" Larry Crandall: "Oh yeah, that's no problem there."

In case you're wondering, they "can" vote for president. There's also a state and county primary they can vote on, coming up in July.