TULSA, Okla. — In six weeks, voters are making the decision on the next U.S. president when voters head to the polls or take part in absentee or early in person voting.
With a record number of absentee voters this year, Oklahoma State Election Board Secretary Misha Mohr said there are a couple changes to mail ballots voters should be aware of.
"Voters who voted in the June 13 election by absentee ballot will notice there are a new set of instructions in their absentee ballot packet," Mohr said. "We have also changed the return envelope color to a green color.”
READ MORE: DECISION 2020: Tulsa County Election Board mailing out absentee ballots
The color change is to help election and postal officials quickly spot the envelopes.
Mohr explained absentee instructions were formatted for easier understanding.
Officials with Tulsa’s Republican and Democratic parties did their own adjusting-- both extended office hours and went through thousands of campaign signs.
“We’ve seen just a record increase of people coming by our headquarters. I’ve had a few representatives reach out to me and tell me that they’ve never seen the kind of energy we’re seeing right now in Tulsa,” Amanda Swope said, chair of the Tulsa County Democratic Party.
“I just can’t encourage people enough to get out to vote on November third this year,” said Bob Jack, chairman to the Republican Party of Tulsa County, on National Voter Registration Day.
The reason to push voting is simple — to make voices heard.
“If you can’t take time to get out and vote, I don't want to hear you complaining,” Tulsa resident John Gatewood said.
The last day to register to vote or update registration is October 9. The deadline to request an absentee ballot is Oct. 27 at 5 p.m. Early voting is Oct. 29 - 31.
READ MORE: DECISION 2020: Deadlines, resources for Oklahoma voters
“We’ll be ready for November 3rd,” Jack said.
A lot more Oklahomans are going the mail route this year. The Oklahoma State Election Board has over 228,000 absentee ballot requests and expect them to keep rising. That figure is almost double previous presidential election years.
DECISION 2020: What's on the Nov. 3 election ballots?
The board is working to make sure county election boards are supplied with hand sanitizer and disinfectant for in-person voters. They are also looking for poll workers. Anyone interested can contact a local election board.
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