Published: October 06, 2008 10:35 am            

If you want to vote

County Election Board secretary reminds residents to make sure they’re registered

Payne County’s secretary of elections has a simple message for citizens who wish to vote on the Nov. 4 election: Do not wait until the last minute to make sure you are eligible.

Glenna Craig said the last day to register in time for the election is Friday. Registration cards must be postmarked or turned in by that date.

Also, those who want to check if they are still registered or want to check where they vote can do through the Internet. There are helpful links on www.paynecounty.org/election_board.php, Craig said.

One is www.state.ok.us/~elections/faq.html, which answers common questions, including where each eligible voter can cast a ballot. That is at www.ok.gov/elections/ppl/index.php, which will find the information if an eligible voter enters his last name, birth date and zip code. Doing so will also let a voter know whether he is registered.

Another page Craig expects to be helpful is www.paynecounty.org/sample_ballots.php, which has sample ballots from each precinct.

There is also information on absentee voting at www.paynecounty.org/absentee_voting.php.

“Our Web site has a lot of information for voters,” Craig said. “We think this is a very good tool to find out all the information they need.”

She added that those without Internet access are welcome to call the election board at 747-8350 with questions, but she said not to put it off.

“Do it now,” she said. “As we get closer to the election, we just don’t have time to take all the calls. If you wait, you might not get through.”

She said the deadline to request a mailed ballot is Oct. 29, and in-person voting starts on Oct. 31.

Also, voters whose 18th birthday is on or before Nov. 4 can register, but the normal Oct. 10 deadline applies. Those individuals cannot wait until their birthdays to register and be eligible for the upcoming election.

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.