A heavy turnout is expected in the county with early voting beginning on Thursday, October 29.

Locally, we will have three races. Hughes County Clerk Tammy Bible will face Angela Brooks. In the District 24 State Representative Logan Phillips will face former State Representative Steve Kouplen.

There will also be a race for State Senate District 7 between Republican Warren Hamilton and Democrat Jerry Donovan. District 7 includes Yeager, Horntown, Wetumka, Dustin, Lamar, Calvin, Stuart, Gerty and Baker’s Branch.

Hughes County Election Board Secretary Brandy Davis reminded voters that early voting will be available at the County Election Board office from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday. Early voting is also available from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

Early Voting for the General Election will be held at the Pontotoc County Agri-plex located at 1710 N Broadway in Ada on Thursday, October 29 ^th , from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Friday, October 30 ^th , from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Saturday, October 31 ^st , from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday. Lines are possible at peak voting times. Wait times will likely be shortest at mid-morning and midafternoon. Anyone in line to vote at 7 p.m. will be allowed to cast a ballot.

- Anyone who needs to look up their polling place, verify their registration information, or view a sample ballot can do so online. The Online Voter Tool can be accessed on the Oklahoma State Election Board’s website: www.elections.ok.gov. Those who vote by mail can also check the status of their ballot using the Online Voter Tool. Sample ballots are also available at the County Election Board office.

- Oklahoma law requires every voter who votes in person at the precinct polling place or during early voting at the County Election Board to show proof of identity before receiving a ballot. There are three ways for voters to prove their identity under the law (only one proof of identity is required): Show a valid photo ID issued by federal, state, or tribal government; or show the free voter identification card issued to every voter by the County Election Board; or sign an affida vit and vote a provisional ballot. (If the information on the affidavit matches official voter registration records, the ballot will be counted after Election Day.)

- Physically disabled voters who cannot enter the polling place, need help marking their ballots, blind or visually disabled voters and illiterate voters may be assisted by a person the voter chooses. In all cases, a person providing such assistance may not be the voter’s employer or an agent of the employer or an officer or agent of the voter’s union. A person providing assistance also must swear or affirm that the voter’s ballots will be marked in accordance with the voter’s wishes. Alternatively, all blind, visually impaired, and physically disabled voters in Hughes County may use the audio-tactile interface (ATI), a feature offered on all Oklahoma voting devices, to vote privately and independently, either at Hughes County Election Board during early voting or at their assigned polling place on election day.

- Voters who have moved since the last election, but who have not transferred their voter registration to their new address, may do so on Election Day by going to vote at the polling place where their registration has been in the past. While voting, they may fill out a form instructing the County Election Board to transfer their registration to the new address before the next election.

- Those who became physically incapacitated after 5 p.m. Tuesday October 27th still can request an emergency absentee ballot. Those who might qualify for an emergency absentee ballot should contact the County Election Board office at (405)379-2174 as soon as possible for more information.

- Any violation of election law will be reported to the proper law enforcement authorities. Electioneering is not allowed within 300 feet of a ballot box. It is also unlawful to remove a ballot from the polling location, possess intoxicating liquors within half a mile of a polling place or to disclose how you voted while within the election enclosure.

For additional election-related information, visit: www.elections. ok.gov.

Tuesday, November 3, is the general election day. Polling places are generally “high-touch” locations. For those of us that missed the mail-in ballot deadline and plan to vote at their local polling location, there are a few things you can do to limit your exposure to the coronavirus. As a general reminder, if you are not feeling well, please stay home.

Keep your distance: Stay 6 feet apart from other voters when you’re waiting in line or in the voting booth.

Use hand sanitizer: Use hand sanitizer before and after you vote (remember, it must have at least 60% alcohol to be effective).

Wear your mask: Before entering the polling location, properly put on your mask and leave it on the entire length of time you are at the polling location.

Consider off-peak hours: If you can, come to the polling place at an off-time, when fewer voters will be packed into the room with you. Do not bring anyone of nonvoting age to the polling location.

Wash your hands: When you return home or to your workplace, wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

If we can all follow these rules, it may make for a healthier and less stressful voting experience.