Some Oklahoma Voters Return Absentee Ballots In Person

More than 74,000 Oklahomans have already voted in the presidential election.

Some voters have been returning their absentee ballots by mail, and others are hand-delivering them.

In a normal year, almost all absentee ballots are returned by mail, but this year more people are choosing to vote absentee, and more are bringing their ballots in themselves so they know it will get there.

There's never been much of a traffic problem at the Rogers County Election Board. Never before a need for plastic virus guards, and an open garage door, but there's never been a pandemic election like this.

“They're coming to bring in ballots, they're registering to vote, and they're coming in to fill out absentee requests,” Julie Dermody, Rogers County Election Board Secretary, said. “It's just been hundreds and hundreds that have come in.”

Interest in the presidential election, plus worries about the virus and the mail, have many voters already returning absentee ballots.

Statewide, 277,000 people requested absentee ballots and 74,000 have already been returned for counting. For Tulsa County, state figures have 58,000 ballots going out - and 13,000 already back.

In Rogers County, Eddie Scully came in to make sure his registration was up to date.

“I want to be sure and vote in the presidential election this time, because I think it matters,” Scully said.

Secretary Dermody said about 100 ballot requests come in every day.

“We're trying to go that extra mile, so our voters feel confident that their vote counts and they've got it done the right way,” Dermody said.

They plan to stay open late Friday on the last day to register new voters and to continue taking in absentee ballots.