A record number of early voters are showing up to vote at the Tulsa County Election Board.
“It’s surprising because it’s almost rivaling the presidential (election) in terms of interest,” said Gwen Freeman, secretary of the Tulsa County Election Board.
According to Freeman, the election board says they’ve seen a 300-percent increase in voter registration for the month of May. She said it’s been a politically charged year for Oklahoma with the teacher walkout and the governor race.
One issue, or question, driving voters is also State Question 788.
“We have people who’ve come in and registered in their 40s, who don’t care about politics, come in and get registered because they want to vote on the medical marijuana issue,” said Freeman.
“I’m for medicinal use of marijuana,” said voter Kevin Mykeloff. “We’ve legalized alcohol. To me, marijuana is not a gateway drug and if we can help people, why not.”
On Friday, voters were lining up to vote at the election board. For Mykeloff, it wasn’t just about casting his vote, but teaching his seven-year-old son the same lesson he learned when he was young.
“We started early, we were taught to be involved at an early age and stay involved,” he said.
He’s 66 now and still involved.
Early voting continues on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Voters can head to their specific precincts on Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
