Surge in Oklahoma registrations could signal record vote ELECTION: MORE SIGN UP IN LAST FIVE DAYS BEFORE DEADLINE THAN IN 2004
BY MICHAEL MCNUTT
Published: October 30, 2008
About 80,000 Oklahomans registered to vote in Tuesday’s presidential election during the five days before registration closed this month, a possible precursor to a record turnout on Tuesday, a state election official said.
Doug Sanderson with the Oklahoma County Election Board looks over mailed-in absentee ballots Wed. Oct. 29, 2008 in Okc. By Jaconna Aguiree.
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The number of voters who registered in the days before the deadline is more than four years ago, when about 77,000 registered in the eight days before the deadline.
A record number of voters cast ballots in the 2004 presidential election.
Mike Clingman, state Election Board secretary, said the 80,493 voters registering in the five days before the Oct. 10 registration deadline for Tuesday’s presidential election indicates Oklahomans will turn out in record numbers again this year.
The historic election — in which voters will choose either the first black president or the first woman vice president — is the main reason for voter interest, Clingman said.
About 1.46 million voters cast ballots in the 2004 presidential election.
More Democrats than Republicans registered during the last week of registration this year.
However, more Republicans have registered to vote since Jan. 15.
During the final five days of voter registration, 35,108 Democrats, 32,146 Republicans and 13,239 independents registered, registration records show.
Oklahoma’s registered voter count stands at 2,185,144 — 1,079,931 Democrats, 860,260 Republicans and 244,953 independents.
That puts the net gain of voters at 162,607 since Jan. 15, after deducting names of voters who died, are in prison or notified the Election Board that they moved out of state.
President Bush in 2004 carried every county in Oklahoma.
No Democratic presidential candidate has carried Oklahoma since President Johnson in 1964. Before 1964, the last Democrat to carry Oklahoma was President Truman in 1948.
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In-person absentee voting for Tuesday’s general election is from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Monday and from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at all county election board offices in Oklahoma.
Regular Voting
Regular Election Day voting Tuesday will be from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at precinct poll locations. Some voters may choose early voting because Tuesday’s turnout for the presidential election may be heavy.
Thank you for joining our conversations on NewsOK.com. We encourage your discussions but ask that you stay within the bounds of our terms and conditions. Please help us by reporting comments that violate these guidelines. To review our rules of engagement, go to Commenting and posting policy.
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