Tulsa Co. Election Board Prepares Precincts For Election Day

Until now, the focus has been on mail-in absentee ballots and in-person early voting, but on Monday, the Tulsa County Election board set up 259 precincts across Tulsa County.

The veterans of the election board train the new precinct workers - some brand new - in charge of a precinct, on their first time out.John Edmondson's only training before now was online, but today he walked out with the official election supplies and loaded up boxes of ballots in the trunk of his car.

“I've sat there watching those volunteers for ten years, working at my precinct, and I decided it was time I helped out,” John Edmondson, precinct inspector, said.

A lot of new people decided to help this year, including many younger people.

“I just wanted to help out if I could, to make sure it went as smooth as possible,” Seth Amos, precinct inspector, said.

Out at the precincts, 13 trucks loaded with voting machines were out. Workers set up 259 precincts Monday, doing what they could to keep distance between voting booths on what's sure to be a busy election.

Back at the election board, the safety protocols for training included face masks and plastic shields. For some of the new people, Monday was their first time working with a voting machine.

“The machine is not complicated, but if you've never done it before, we've got great checklists, they like to see hands on, and we go over that with them if they like,” Mike Fritts with the Tulsa County Election Board said.

With five years of experience, Therese Aduni said she's ready for Tuesday. She believes it’s her duty.

“Why do I think it's my civic duty? Because my ancestors died for the right to vote,” Aduni said. “That alone sets me on my course of what I'm supposed to do.”

Tuesday during the day, the election board will continue processing absentee ballots and then at 7 p.m. switch over to process in-person returns.