Early voting begins Thursday for five school districts

James Beaty, McAlester News-Capital, Okla.
·2 min read

Mar. 27—Two days of early in-person absentee ballot voting is set to begin Thursday, March 28, for five school districts in Pittsburg County.

All of the early in-person absentee ballot voting will be conducted for the first time at the Pittsburg County Election Board's new offices at 7 E. Chickasaw Ave. in McAlester, said Pittsburg County Election Board Secretary Tonya Barnes.

School board races are set in the Hartshorne, Krebs and Crowder school districts, while school bond elections will be held in the Indianola and Pittsburg school districts.

Early voting is set from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Thursday, March, 28, and Friday, March 29. No early voting by in-person absentee ballot will be available on Saturday. All regular precinct polling places in the five affected school districts are set to be open from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 2, for the school elections.

In the school bond elections, Indianola Public Schools has a measure on the ballot for $8,705,000.

Pittsburg Public Schools has a $560,000 school bond issue on its ballot.

Language on both the Indianola and Pittsburg School ballots state the bond issues "are for the purpose of constructing, equipping repairing and remodeling school buildings, acquiring school furniture, fixtures and equipment and acquiring and improving school sites."

School board races on the April 2 ballot are:

—Hartshorne — Ira Brinlee and Ashlee Jowers are candidates for Office No. 4.

—Krebs — Kathy Prichard and Brian Franklin are both seeking Office No. 1.

—Crowder — Nicole Brooks and Charles Kitchens are running for Office No. 4

Voting by in-person absentee ballot is an option to those who cannot make it to the polls on Election Day, and it's also available to all voters. No reason or excuse is required to vote by an in-person absentee ballot, Barnes said.

Election officials noted some individuals may need assistance to vote because they are blind or visually disabled, physically disabled, infirm, or illiterate. They may ask to have assistance or vote privately and independently using the ATI device attached to the voting device. Those who require assistance should talk to their precinct official or contact the County Election Board directly for instructions, Barnes said.

Anyone with questions can contact the Election Board at 918-423-3877 or online at pittsburgcounty@elections.ok.gov.