Elections chief warns Canadian County voters

By Conrad Dudderar
Staff Writer

With early voting starting Thursday for the June 28^th primary, Canadian County’s elections chief hopes voters will heed her warning.

“It’s a crime – no political materials are allowed inside a polling location or within 300 feet of the ballot box,” Canadian County Election Board Secretary Wanda Armold said.

“It is a concern when people wear a campaign T-shirt or button into the polling place because some voters get mad. It just causes chaos. Our precinct workers need to tell them it’s against the law and to ‘please not do it again’.”

Canadian County precinct officials are trained not to be confrontational, although the sheriff’s office will be called if an issue arises.

“I want people to be more aware,” Armold said. “I just hope everyone will be respectful.”

Three precinct workers are assigned to each polling place – an inspector, judge and clerk.

A sign at each polling site will inform voters of the law that forbids electioneering near the ballot box:

• No political materials
• No advocacy for or against a candidate or issue
• No political T-shirts, jackets, sweaters, etc.
• No political hats, beanies, scarves, etc.
• No political buttons, masks or accessories

“Violations are punishable by up to one year in jail, $10,000 in fines or both,” Armold warned Canadian County voters.

Regular primary voting will be 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. next Tuesday, June 28 at 55 polling sites across Canadian County.

Early, in-person voting will be 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday, June 23-24 and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, June 25 at 314 W Rogers in El Reno (former Canadian County DHS Building).

There are 91,882 registered voters in Canadian County and Armold anticipates voter turnout will be at least 50% this time.

That’s because of the bounty of interesting political races on primary ballots, particularly for Republicans.

DECISIONS, DECISIONS

Canadian County GOP voters will cast ballots for governor, state attorney general, state auditor, state treasurer, state superintendent of public instruction, labor commissioner, corporation commissioner, two U.S. senators, U.S. District 3 representative, and U.S. District 5 representative.

Also, District 55 state representative, District 60 state representative, District 18 state senator, District 22 state senator, District 26 state senator, District 1 Canadian County commissioner, and District 3 Canadian County commissioner.

Canadian County Democrat voters won’t see much on their primary ballots, only candidates for governor and U.S. Senate.

“Republicans can only vote a Republican ballot, Democrats can only vote a Democrat ballot,” Armold explained. “Independents are allowed to vote a Democrat ballot if they want to. There is not anything for the Libertarians to vote on.”

Meanwhile, all registered voters in Union City (regardless of party) can vote in a special OG&E franchise election.

Because of Canadian County’s population growth and redistricting, some 11 new polling places have been added starting with the June 28th primary election.

The Canadian County Election Board recently mailed out more than 53,000 new voter identification cards to voters whose precincts and/or polling places have changed.

Some 5,000 of those voter ID cards were returned as “undeliverable.”

“Those people moved and do not know their polling places changed,” Armold noted.

Signs will be displayed at every polling place with a QR code directing voters to the “OK Voter Portal” on the State Election Board’s website so they can find out where to vote.

POLLING PLACES

These 60 Canadian County precincts at 55 polling places will be open for the Tuesday, June 28^th primary election:

100 – Canadian Valley Technology Center, 6506 E Hwy 66 – El Reno

102 – Mt. Zion United Methodist Church, 321 150^th St. NE – El Reno

106 (119) – New Hope Baptist Church, 500 N Reformatory Rd. – El Reno

107 (129) – Baymont Inn & Suites, 1707 SW 27^th St. – El Reno

110 – Wesley United Methodist Church, 101 S Barker Ave. – El Reno

114 – Canadian County Expo Center, 3001 Jensen Road E – El Reno

116 – Faith Family Church, 1205 Sunset Drive – El Reno

118 – First Free Will Baptist Church, 1501 W Elm St. – El Reno

119 – New Hope Baptist Church, 500 N Reformatory Rd. – El Reno

124 – El Reno Public Safety Center/New Fire Station, 2707 Faith Ave. – El Reno

129 – Baymont Inn & Suites, 1707 SW 27^th St. – El Reno

200 – Grace Communion Church, 12201 Ashford Dr. – Yukon

201 – Richland Nazarene Church, 10825 N 6^th in Richland community – Yukon

202 – Richland Nazarene Church, 10825 N 6^th in Richland community – Yukon

203 – Metroplex Fellowship Church of the Nazarene, 10801 N County Line Road – Yukon

204 – Yukon First Church of the Nazarene, 525 E Main St. – Yukon

205 – Westside Christian Church, 10145 N.W. Expressway – Yukon

206 – Bethel Community Church, 4901 N Sara Road – Yukon

207 – Grace Pentecostal Church, 4517 N Sara Road – Yukon

208 – Yukon First United Methodist Church, 400 Elm St. – Yukon

210 – Yukon Fine Arts Center, 850 Yukon Ave. – Yukon

211 (299) – Family Church, 701 N Cemetery Road – Yukon

212 – Covenant Community Church, 2250 Yukon Parkway – Yukon

213 – West Point Christian Church, 1600 S Richland Road – Yukon

214 – Town & Country Christian Church, 2200 S Cornwell Dr. – Yukon

215 – Trinity Baptist Church-Yukon, 620 N Cemetery Rd. – Yukon

216 – Yukon Church, 11715 N.W. 10^th St. – Yukon

217 (219) – Sara Road Baptist Church, 2015 N Sara Road – Yukon

218 – Discovery Church, 900 E Main St. – Yukon

220 – Dale Robertson Center, 1200 Lakeshore Dr. – Yukon

221 – International Pentecostal Assembly Church, 12221 Park Ave. – Yukon

222 – New Life Pentecostal Assembly Church, 2851 S County Line Rd. – Oklahoma City

223 – Canadian Hills Nazarene Church, 11744 W Reno Ave. – Yukon

224 – Canadian Valley Baptist Church, 11500 S.W. 15^th St. – Yukon

225 – Joe Cooper Dodge of Yukon, 11001 W Reno Ave. – Yukon

227 – United Methodist Church of the Good Shepherd, 10928 S.W. 15^th – Yukon

228 – Grace Episcopal Church-Yukon, 720 S Yukon Parkway – Yukon

239 (229) – Stable Rock Baptist Church, 1301 S Cemetery Road – Yukon

300 – Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 1100 N Sara Road – Mustang

301 – Mustang Community Center, 1201 N Mustang Road – Mustang

302 – Mustang Nazarene Church, 700 E Hwy 152 – Mustang

303 – Mustang United Methodist Church, 211 W Hwy 152 – Mustang

304 – Mustang Heights Baptist Church, 646 W Hwy 152 – Mustang

305 – The Bridge Assembly of God Church-Mustang (The Endzone), 1116 W Hwy 152 – Mustang

306 – Chisholm Heights Baptist Church, 2243 W Hwy 152 – Mustang

308 – Lakehoma Church of Christ, 2124 W Hwy 152 – Mustang

310 – Church of Christ West Metro, 4900 S Cemetery Road – Yukon

312 – Empowered Church, 601 E Hwy 152 – Mustang

400 – St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 407 Kate Boevers Ave. – Union City

403 – Scott Baptist Church, 2455 State Hwy 37 – Hinton

404 – Red Rock United Methodist Church, 250 N Red Rock Rd. – Calumet

406 – New Life Assembly of God Church, 8155 S Hwy 281 – Geary

408 – Calumet Town Hall, 118 W Second St. – Calumet

502 – St. John’s Parish Hall, 521 N Colorado – Okarche

504 – Piedmont United Methodist Church, 2525 N Piedmont Rd., Piedmont

506 – Piedmont First Baptist Church, 15 Jackson Ave. NW – Piedmont

507 – The Bridge Assembly of God Church-Piedmont, 4050 Edmond Rd. NE – Piedmont

For more information, click on the OK Voter Portal or call the Canadian County Election Board at (405) 422-2422.