Oklahoma sets records for in-person early voting and voter registration • Oklahoma Voice

OKLAHOMA CITY — Voter registration has surpassed 2.4 million people, the highest number since the state began collecting numbers in 2000, according to the Oklahoma State Election Board.

“I’m encouraged by the latest numbers and the growth in registered voters we’ve seen over the last few years,” said Paul Ziriax, secretary of the Oklahoma State Election Board. “Hopefully they indicate better overall voter turnout in the general election.”

Oklahoma has seen a net increase of more than 141,023 voters since Jan. 14 and 29,056 since September.

Republicans make up 52.33% of registered voters while Democrats make up 26.98%. Independents make up 19.72% while Libertarians make up 0.95%.

Oklahomans go to the polls Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. to select members of the Statehouse, Congress, a corporation commissioner and the president, and decide the fate of some appellate judges and two state cases.

Meanwhile, Oklahoma set a record number of in-person early voters ahead of Tuesday's election, according to the Oklahoma State Election Board.

Early voting began Wednesday and ended Saturday.

According to the agency, nearly 293,000 people showed up early to vote.

The old record was set in 2020 at about 167,000, but within a three-day period, said Misha Mohr, spokeswoman for the Oklahoma State Election Board.

“I think we had exceeded that number by midday Friday,” she said.

All but one county set early voting records this cycle, she said.

“The one that didn’t (Muskogee County) came very, very close,” she said.

Registered Republicans outnumbered Democrats, Libertarians and Independents, with 182,423 people voting in advance.

Registered Democrats cast 74,117 votes, followed by Independents with 34,372 and Libertarians with 1,543.

Locations across the state, particularly Oklahoma City, Edmond and Tulsa, reported long lines and wait times.

On Saturday, voters at the Edmond Early Voting Center in Oklahoma County said they waited more than three hours to cast their ballots. Nearly two hours after sites closed, hundreds of people were still waiting in line to cast their votes.

Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, handed out tacos to those in line at the Edmond location.