Early voting began Oct. 30 for the Nov. 5 election and continues from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2 at the Bryan County Courthouse.
Polls have revealed the race for the White House by Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Kamala Harris to be close.
Chase Oliver is the Libertarian candidate for president. Although Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an independent, has since dropped out of the race, his name is still on the Oklahoma ballots. Chris Garrity, also an independent, is on the presidential ballot.
Bryan County voters will be voting on two separate sales taxes to benefit county roads and bridges and the sheriff’s office.
Proposition one is a threequarters cent tax to be divided among the three county districts to fund road and bridge construction, repair and maintenance and the purchase of materials/equipment, plus payroll support for road maintenance personnel.
During a recent meeting, District 3 Commissioner Brandon Carr said he had been researching surrounding counties and the amount of funding they receive.
“We are actually the only current county in southeastern Oklahoma that doesn’t have two percent,” Carr said. “I did some research on Marshall County and last year alone, they brought in $1.9 million more tax revenue than Bryan County and they’re half the size. I think we’re a sinking ship if we don’t get a sales tax passed. I really do.”
Proposition 2 is a quartercent for the Bryan County Sheriff’s Office with the funds to used for but not limited to payroll support, training, equipment, vehicles, facilities, plus construction, repair, renovation and maintenance/ operation of facilities operated by the sheriff’s office.
Sheriff Johnny Christian said, “We’re over eleven-hundred in calls now coming in. We’re making it but it’s the people that’s having to suffer when it takes forever for a deputy to get there. We are here to protect and serve but I’ve got to be able to do my job and it’s going to take money that they don’t have.”
Bryan County currently has a quarter-cent sales tax to fund rural fire departments and another quarter cent divided among the sheriff’s office, county general funds and roads and bridges.
Incumbent Republican United States District 02 Representative Josh Brecheen is being challenged by Democrat Brandon Wade and Independent Ronnie Hopkins.
Chad Williams, Libertarian; J. Brian Bingman, Republican, and Harold D. Spradling, Democrat, are running for Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner. This is an open seat because Bob Anthony is term limited.
Calera residents will be voting on a proposition for the town council to have the authority to appoint the town clerk/treasurer instead of the voters making that decision.
There are two state questions ontheballot.StateQuestion No. 833, according to OKPolicy. Org, would amend the Oklahoma Constitution to allow for the creation of Public Infrastructure Districts. These are districts created by surface property owners within a municipality. PIDs are a financing mechanism used to fund new infrastructure improvements, and the districts can issue bonds to pay for public improvements within their defined physical boundaries. Bonds are paid back through the collection of special assessment taxes on property owners within the PID in addition to other constitutional assessments like property taxes.
State Question No. 834 would amend the Oklahoma Constitution to clarify that only U.S. citizens are qualified to vote in the state. Currently, the Oklahoma Constitution states “all” U.S. citizens may vote and if the proposition passes, the wording would be changed to “only” citizens of the U.S. can vote.
According to okvoterguide. com, proponents say the measure clarifies the language in the Oklahoma constitution to avoid confusion about who can vote in Oklahoma elections and it is a proactive approach to prevent noncitizens from voting, thereby decreasing the potential for fraud. Opponents say it is already a felony for non-citizens to register to vote and that this is a political ploy.
Voters also will be voting on whether state justices and judges should be retained in office.
Polls are open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 5.
For more information on the election, contact the Bryan County Election Board at (580) 924-3228.