OKLAHOMA CITY -
Early voting for Tuesday's general election is officially underway
in Oklahoma, with thousands of people lined up to cast their ballots here in
the metro on Friday.
County election
boards across the state will close in less than an hour and reopen on Saturday.
As of late Friday
afternoon, more than 3,300 registered voters lined up in Oklahoma County to
cast their ballots early. The day began before sunrise for some voters in the
metro.
"I had to get
up here early this morning. Last time I got up here at 7 a.m. and the line was seven
blocks already long," Lorenzo Threatt, Sr., said.
Most voters will
show up to their local precincts on Tuesday, but thousands lined up at county
election boards Friday to cast early ballots.
"A lot of
people want to get it over with early. They may be called out of town at the
last moment and they don't want to miss voting on election day so they come and
vote early with us," Oklahoma County Election Board Secretary Doug
Sanderson said.
Several state
questions are on the ballot, but in this presidential election, voters say
national issues are driving them to the polls early.
"I'm also a 20-year
Air Force veteran, and I think [President Obama] has done a fabulous job on
foreign affairs, and I was just excited to be able to vote early and support
the president," Dr. Katherine Sherman said.
Most voters came
prepared to wait in line to make sure their voices are heard.
"It's very
important everybody get out and vote because a lot of people think it doesn't
count and it counts more this time than it did last time," Threatt said.
If you're heading to
the polls to vote, you do have to provide proof of identity. That can be an
Oklahoma driver license, state ID card, passport, or military ID.
Early voting
continues Saturday from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m.
As of late Friday afternoon, more than 3,300 registered voters lined up in Oklahoma County to cast their ballots early.
