Ballots make a return this week

From Staff Reports

Early voting comes later this week for a school board race in Pauls Valley.

This one isn’t typical as challenger Wayne Mikel has already conceded the race to longtime incumbent Joe Don Looney, who is going for his fifth term on the Pauls Valley Board of Education.

Still, precincts in Pauls Valley will be open and ready for business as the election is Tuesday, April. 2.

In-person absentee voting is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday, March 28-29 at the Garvin County Election Board in the county courthouse in Pauls Valley.

All of that’s quickly followed by a three-day filing period April 3-5 for various offices on the county, state and congressional levels.

From those filings will be a primary election date of June 18, followed by a runoff primary date of Aug. 27 and the general election on Nov. 5, which includes the presidential vote.

Another date to remember is March 31. That’s because it’s the last day for voters to change their party affiliation for the upcoming 2024 elections.

“If we receive your request after March 31 we are required by law to hold that request and process it in September,” said Garvin County Election Board Secretary Gayla Dean.

In Oklahoma, voters must be registered members of a party to vote in that party’s primary election.

Oklahoma has three recognized parties: Democratic, Republican and Libertarian.

Currently, the Democratic Party allows Independents to vote in its primary elections.

To change party affiliation before the March 31 deadline, go online to the Oklahoma Election Board website or complete a new voter registration application.

Election officials say no party changes are allowed from April 1 through August 31 during an even-numbered year.