Election Boards Prepare For Brutally Cold Day At Polls

The State Election Board said election day will happen as normal Tuesday, despite the winter weather.

The Tulsa County Election Board said it is preparing to open all 259 precincts at 7 a.m. Tuesday morning as normal. They say the weather has impacted voter turnout in the past but hope people will still get out to have their voices heard.

Tulsa County Election Board Secretary Gwen Freeman said they put days, weeks and even sometimes months into election day preparation. Many poll workers spent the day picking up ballots, pens and equipment needed for Tuesday.

"We had 13 trucks that were filled to the brim and we are finishing up delivering that equipment to our different precinct locations that will be across the county," said Freeman. 

Freeman said the decision to postpone an election because of weather is up to the state election board or the governor.

Freeman said they had no trouble finding people to work the November elections, but they’ve struggled to find poll workers this time around.

"A lot of our workers as you know are elderly, so with the combination of COVID and the ice, they're hesitant to go to their precinct locations but we are working on it as we speak," said Freeman.

In Tulsa County, voters will decide on a new county treasurer and several school board seats are up for grabs.

People living in the Jenks School district will vote on a two-part bond package to pay for school renovations, textbooks and updates to the performing arts center.

Cherokee County voters will decide on a 4% lodging tax that would go toward marketing the area to tourists.

People living in the McAlester Public Schools district will decide whether to approve a nearly $35 million bond to build a new middle school and event center.

Related Story: McAlester Voters To Decide On $35M Bond For New School, Event Center

"People need to show up and make their voices heard at the polls tomorrow just as much as they do at any other election," said Freeman.

Tulsa County election officials say if you get to your polling location at 7 a.m. and no one is there yet, be patient. The poll workers are driving in the same road conditions you are to get there.

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday and election officials recommend that you dress warm.