In-person absentee voting available

Registered voters in Cleveland County who want to vote by mail absentee in the July 29 State and County Primary Election have missed the application deadline, county Election Board Secretary Paula G. Roberts said.

“They aren’t out of luck, however,” Roberts said.

Voters who want to cast absentee ballots can still do so by going to the Cleveland County Election Board office, 122 S. Peters Ave., 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday or 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. July 28. A two-member, bipartisan Absentee Voting Board will be on duty each day to assist in-person absentee voters.

“In-person absentee voters fill out an application form when they arrive at the office. They are not required to state a reason for voting in-person absentee,” Roberts said. “They are required to swear that they have not voted a regular mail absentee ballot and that they will not vote at their polling places on election day.”

Roberts said the Absentee Voting Board verifies voters’ registration information, then issues the voters’ ballots. The voters mark the ballots in a voting booth, then put them in the voting device. “It is very much like voting at a precinct polling place,” said Roberts.

For more information, visit the Election Board office or call 366-0210.

Collins announces re-election bid

Incumbent Democrat Wallace Collins announced his intention to seek another term in the State House of Representatives for District 45.

The district covers all of east Norman, Lake Thunderbird, and includes Little Axe.

“There are many reasons for me to want to continue serving the district and state,” Collins said, “such as the need to protect Oklahoma’s water from a sale to Texas. Water is a very precious commodity, and we will need it for our own continued growth and development.”

Other issues Collins is passionate about include his call for a return of passenger rail service to Oklahoma and a development of a light rail system to cover central Oklahoma.

“A light rail system similar to the old Interurban we used to enjoy would allow people to commute, or travel around central Oklahoma without having to use a car or our congested highways,” said the lifelong Norman resident. An electric trolley would be safe, clean, efficient, protect the environment, and help relieve the stress and strain on the budget of working people, as well as enable people with disabilities to get about.

Additional issues for Collins are pay raises for state employees, and finding a way to annualize their pay, so they don’t have to come to the Capitol to beg for a raise.