Early voting opens in Logan County

No lines stretched outside the Logan County Election Board at midmorning Wednesday, October 28, as voters began casting ballots for the November 3 general election. Early voting continues through Saturday at 219 S. Broad St. in Guthrie.

The election includes the county’s associate district judge race, statewide offices, congressional contests, nine judicial retention questions and two proposed constitutional amendments. Registered voters may vote early without providing an excuse, and general-election voters may choose candidates regardless of party affiliation.

The local judge race

Logan County’s only contested county office is associate district judge, with Sierra Pfeiffer and Diane Vaughan seeking the position in a nonpartisan election. Vaughan currently holds the office. Pfeiffer serves as deputy general counsel for the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation and previously worked as an assistant district attorney.

Statewide candidates

For governor, voters will choose among Republican Mike Mazzei, Democrat Cyndi Munson and independents Orlando Lynn Bush, Robert E. Brooks Sr. and Jerry Griffin.

Other statewide contests include:

1. Lieutenant governor: T. W. Shannon (R) and Kelly Forbes (D).
2. Attorney general: Jon Echols (R) and Nick Coffey (D).
3. State treasurer: Cindy Byrd (R) and Kiefer Perry (L).
4. State superintendent: Robert Franklin (R) and Jennettie Marshall (D).
5. Labor commissioner: Kevin West (R), Kevin Dawson (D) and Mike Hall (L).
6. Insurance commissioner: Bob Sullivan (R) and Craig MacIntyre (D).
7. Corporation commissioner: Brad Boles (R) and Rhonda Eastman (D).

U.S. Senate and congressional races

All Logan County voters will help decide the U.S. Senate race, choosing among Republican Kevin Hern, Democrat N’Kiyla Jasmine Thomas, Libertarian Sevier White and independents Ron Meinhardt and Curtis Stinnett.

The county is split between two U.S. House districts:

1. District 3: Republican Frank D. Lucas faces Democrat Suzie Byrd.
2. District 5: Republican Stephanie Bice faces Democrat Jena Nelson and independents Robert P. Henri and Austin Nieves.

The dividing line generally follows the Cimarron River through Logan County. The northern portion, including Crescent, Mulhall, Orlando and Marshall, falls in District 3. Guthrie and the southern portion of the county generally fall in District 5, which also includes Langston and Coyle.

Voters near the boundary should confirm their district and view their specific sample ballot through the OK Voter Portal. Each voter will vote in one congressional race, according to their registered address.

Nine judges face retention votes

Voters will also decide whether nine appellate judges should remain in office. Each receives a separate yes-or-no vote, with “yes” supporting retention and “no” opposing it.

The retention ballot includes Supreme Court justices M. John Kane IV, Travis Jett, Dana Kuehn and Richard Darby; Court of Criminal Appeals Judge Robert L. Hudson; and Court of Civil Appeals judges Stacie L. Hixon, Jane P. Wiseman, Deborah B. Barnes and James R. Huber. Hudson previously served as district attorney for Logan and Payne counties and as a special judge in the district.

Two state questions

State Question 845 would change the membership and selection rules for Oklahoma’s Judicial Nominating Commission. Among other provisions, it would use current congressional districts for appointments, remove certain restrictions involving attorneys and political party membership, and allow commissioners to serve successive terms.

State Question 847 would lower the annual cap on increases in property values used for taxation, beginning in 2027. The cap would fall from 3 percent to 1.75 percent for homesteads and agricultural land, and from 5 percent to 4 percent for most other real property. It would also revise the senior homestead valuation freeze, using income levels to determine whether qualifying homeowners age 65 or older could see increases ranging from zero to 1.75 percent. These limits concern taxable property values; they do not guarantee an equivalent change in a tax bill.

Where and when to vote

All Logan County early voting takes place at 219 S. Broad St., Guthrie, during these hours:

1. Wednesday, October 28: 8 a.m.–6 p.m.
2. Thursday, October 29: 8 a.m.–6 p.m.
3. Friday, October 30: 8 a.m.–6 p.m.
4. Saturday, October 31: 8 a.m.–2 p.m.

Voters should bring an accepted form of identification, such as a qualifying government-issued photo ID or their county-issued voter identification card. Those without identification may sign an affidavit and cast a provisional ballot.

Sample ballots and assigned polling places are available through the OK Voter Portal. On Tuesday, November 3, voters must use their assigned Election Day polling places, which will be open 7 a.m.–7 p.m.