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On Tuesday, Americans get their hands on the most powerful weapon — a ballot. If you are angry, go vote. If you are fed up, go vote.
If you are happy with the way things are headed, go vote. If you think someone’s vision is inspiring, go vote. If you think everyone’s vision is horrifying, go vote.
If you want Tulsa to change, go vote. If you want Tulsa to stay the course, go vote. If you like Donald Trump, go vote.
If you like Kamala Harris, go vote. If you don’t like either one of them, still go vote. Every person has a reason to cast a ballot; there is much to decide.
But for the past two decades, fewer and fewer Oklahomans have been choosing the leaders who make decisions affecting our everyday lives. The last time the state’s voter turnout rate was higher than the national average was 1988. People who are eligible and registered to vote have been choosing not to.
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A former Sooner will be Mike Gundy's last resort at QB this season McAlester places head football coach Forrest Mazey on administrative leave Mike Gundy sends message to Oklahoma State football fans More signs point to Meta data center coming to Tulsa Long lines for early voting at Tulsa County Election Board locations Oklahoma State announces second-half kickoff time vs Arizona State following weather delay Berry Tramel's Oxford travelblog: Ole Miss is not the same place it once was OSU veterinary school placed on probationary accreditation, dean steps down $2.5 billion Vinita theme park to be delayed years, but developers say they are still all in ‘It just looked erratic’: Gundy expressed frustration with coaching following ASU loss Mike Gundy hosts radio shows at a senior living community. The residents have questions Bill Haisten: One year after the most special Bedlam, a homecoming dud for OSU Voter Guide: Tulsa mayor, city council, Legislature, Congress, judges, state questions Slow second-half start zooms Cowboys, freshman QB Maealiuaki Smith makes debut No.
1 Owasso survives high-scoring clash against No. 10 Norman North to remain unbeaten The top of the ballot always gets lots of attention — president and congressional member. But the lower offices are on the ballot, the closer they are to the decisions that affect voters every day.
Some Tulsa voters have choices of a state legislator, city councilor and county commissioner. Those jobs dictate how our taxes are spent. They have a direct say on how to reduce homelessness, bolster public safety, lure in businesses and strengthen schools.
Take a few minutes to find your ballot and look up information before you go vote. Be an informed voter. Ballots can be found on the Voter Portal at the Oklahoma State Election Board site, oklahoma.
gov/elections . Print out the ballot, mark it up and do some research on the races or ballot questions you don’t know. The full Tulsa World coverage of the election is found at tulsaworld.
com/elections . The League of Women Voters of Metropolitan Tulsa has a nonpartisan voter guide on its site at lwvtulsa.org .
Take time to consider each race and each question. It’s courageous for candidates to offer themselves for elected public service. The least voters can do is find out why they are running and hear them out.
Democracy works only when people show up. One person, one ballot is the great equalizer among the country’s inequities..
