Polls will be open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. Tuesday for the primary elections and a state question on raising the minimum wage.
Early voting continues through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Bryan County Courthouse.
For Bryan County Commissioner District 1, Republicans Richard Nix and Lance Billings are seeking the office. Current commissioner Scott Goad did not file for reelection.
Bryan County District 3 Commissioner Brandon Carr is being challenged by Josh Cross. All candidates for commissioner are Republicans so that election will be settled in the primary.
Republicans Michael A. Brittingham, Anthony DeVore and Derek Porter are running for State Representative District 19 that is currently held by Justin Humphrey, who filed for Lt. Governor. District 21 State Rep. Cody Maynard did not draw an opponent.
Democrats Ervin Stone Yen, R.O. Joe Cassity Jr., N’Kiyla Jasmine Thomas, Jim Priest and Troy Green are seeking the office of U.S. Senator that was previously held by Markwayne Mullin until he was appointed secretary of Homeland Security. Republicans seeking that office are Nick Hankins, Gary Ty England, Kevin Hern, Sean Buckner and Brian Ragain.
Incumbent Republican Josh Breechen is the U.S. Representative for District 2, and he is being challenged by Will Webb. Democrats seeking that office are Erik Terwey and Brandon Wade.
There also are primary elections for governor, Lt. governor, superintendent of public instruction, attorney general, commissioner of labor and corporation commissioner.
State Question 832, if approved, would raise minimum wage in the state.
According to the ballot, the measure amends the Oklahoma Minimum Wage Act (OMWA) under the Oklahoma statutes to increase the state minimum wage. Employers must pay employees at least $9 per hour beginning in 2025, increasing $1.50 annually for a final rate of $15 per hour in 2029. Beginning in 2030 and continuing indefinitely, the minimum wage would automatically increase annually based on the increase in the cost of living, if any, as measured by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, the minimum wage increase would continue with any successor agency or index.
The current minimum wage is $7.25 per hour.
Calera and Colbert will be voting on propositions for Oklahoma Gas & Electric to have electricity rights for 25 years.
Bryan County Election Board Secretary Kimberly Norris offers these important tips to voters — especially those who will be casting a ballot for the first time.
Mark your ballot using the example posted at your polling place and inside your ballot booth. If you make a mistake, do not try to correct it. Instead, take your ballot to the precinct officials. They will destroy the ballot and issue a new one.
You do not need to make a selection for each election/issue on the ballot in order for your ballot to be counted. The voting device will cast votes only for those elections/issues which you have marked.
Ballots can be read by the voting device regardless of how you insert the ballot into the system. If the system detects too many markings for a single office or question, an error report will be printed, and the ballot will be returned to the voter for a new ballot to be issued.
If you need assistance or would like to use the audioassisted ballot system, let a precinct official know. You do not have to show proof of a disability to use the audioassisted ballot system.
Be sure to bring an approved form of identification. Photo identification cards issued by the federal government, State of Oklahoma, or a federally recognized tribe are accepted. You may also use the free voter identification card mailed to you by your County Election Board when you registered to vote. Forms of identification with an expiration date must have an expiration date that falls after the date of the election.
If you forget your voter ID or your name is not found in the Precinct Registry, you may still cast a provisional ballot by signing an affidavit. A provisional ballot is sealed in a special envelope and counted after Election Day, if the voter’s registration information can be verified by the County Election Board. Election results cannot be certified until all provisional ballots have been researched, verified, and (if valid) counted.
Some voters may need assistance to vote because they are blind or visually disabled, physically disabled or infirmed, or illiterate. Such individuals may request to have an assistant or vote privately and independently using the ATI device attached to the voting device. Those who require assistance should talk to their precinct official or contact the County Election Board directly for instructions.
Norris said election officials are there to assist voters and ensure all procedures are followed on election day. If you believe an election law has been violated, contact precinct and/or county election officials immediately. Do not wait until you leave the polling location.
Voting activity is generally slowest mid-morning and mid-afternoon, but lines and wait times can vary from precinct to precinct. All voters who want to cast a ballot should be in line no later than 7 p.m.
“Anyone who is in line by 7 p.m. on Tuesday and eligible to vote, will be allowed to vote,” Norris said.
You can locate your polling place and view a sample ballot using the State Election Board’s OK Voter Portal at oklahoma.gov/elections/ovp.
The Bryan County Election Board is located at 402 W. Evergreen St, Ste A-2 and is open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. For questions, please contact the Election Board at 580-924-3228 or BryanCounty@elections. ok.gov.