Political positions that did not have a winning candidate during the J une 26^th election will be facing runoffs this Tuesday, August 28^th . Seats with three or more candidates running on each party’s ballot needed a 50+ vote majoring to avoid this runoff primary election. Candidates chosen during the runoff will face their party’s opponent in the November election.

Democrats voting this Tuesday will decide between Ashley Nicole McCray and Blake Cummings for the open seat on the Oklahoma Corporation Commission. In Pontotoc County votes will be cast for U S Representative District 04, between Mary Brannon and Fred Gipson. In Hughes County voters will select their candidate for U S Representative District 02 between ason Nichols and Clay Padgett; and will choose their County Assessor between J amie F oster and Amber Walton J ones.

Registered Libertarian voters will choose between Rex L. Lawhorn and Chris Powell to be placed on the November ballot for the office of Governor.

Republican voters have more decisions to make as they must name candidates for seven races. F or the office of Governor, candidates are Kevin Stitt and Mick Cornett; for Lieutenant Governor, candidates are Matt Pinnell and Dana Murphy. On the runoff ballot for State Auditor and Inspector are Charlie Prater and Cindy Byrd; for Attorney General candidates are Gentner Drummond and Mike Hunter; Leslie Osborn and Cathy Costello are running for Commissioner of Labor; and Brian Bingman and Bob Anthony are seeking the seat as Corporation Commissioner. Also on the ballot will be Linda Murphy and J oy Hofmeister for State Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Early Voting for the August 28^th Runoff Primary Election will be held at the Pontotoc County Election Board at 131 W. 13^th in Ada and the Hughes County Election Board in the Hughes County Courthouse, Holdenville. Any registered voter may vote in their respective county on Thursday, August 23^rd , or F riday, August 24^th , from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., or on Saturday, August 25^th , from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

On Election Day, Tuesday, August 28^th , voting will be from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the polling places instead of at the Election Board Office. 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 offi ce.

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 affi davit and vote a provisional ballot. (If the information on the affi davit 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 affi rm 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 Pontotoc County may use the audio-tactile interface (ATI), a feature offered on all Oklahoma voting devices, to vote privately and independently, either at Pontotoc 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, August 21^st , still can request an emergency absentee ballot. Those who might qualify for an emergency absentee ballot should contact the County Election Board office at 580-332-4534 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.

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