BLAINE COUNTY — The polling place for Precinct 11 has been changed, Brenda Rice, Secretary of the Blaine County Election Board, announced today.
Voters in Precinct 11 formerly voted at Former City Hall, 117 N. Weigle in Watonga.
Effective immediately, the new polling place will be City Hall, 410 West Main in Watonga. The first election held at the new location will be the Board of Education Primary scheduled for February 8.
The polling location was moved due to the City of Watonga purchasing a new facilty.
Voters who have questions or concerns, should contact the Blaine County Election Board at 580-623-5518 or blainecounty@elections.ok.go v. The County Election Board is located at 212 N. Weigle. Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday though Friday.
Early voting begins Thursday
Early voting begins Thursday February 3, 2022, for voters in Blaine County. Voters who will not be able to make it to the polls on Election Day, have the option of voting early at their County Election Board.
Blaine County Election Board Secretary, Brenda Rice, said early voting is open to all voters.
“You do not need to provide an excuse to vote early. Oklahoma allows early voting for all elections conducted through the State Election Board—from school board and municipal elections to state and federal elections. This is a great option for those who will be out of town on Election Day or who want to avoid long lines,” Rice said.
Early voting is available Thursday February 3, 2022, and Friday February 4, 2022, from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the County Election Board located at Blaine County Courthouse Basement. Rice reminds voters that early voting is not available at polling locations.
The Blaine County Election Board is located at 212 N Weigle, Watonga, Ok and is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. For questions, please contact the Election Board at 580-623-5518.
Election Day Reminders and Tips
Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, February 8, 2022, for the Bd. Of Education Primary/Special. Blaine County Election Board Secretary, Brenda Rice, offers these important tips to voters—especially those who will be casting a ballot for the first time.
VOTING TIPS
• Mark your ballot using the example posted at your polling place and inside your ballot booth. If you make a mistake, do not try to correct it. Instead, take your ballot to the precinct officials. They will destroy the ballot and issue a new one.
• You do not need to make a selection for each issue on the ballot in order for your ballot to be counted. The voting device will cast votes only for those issues which you have marked.
• Ballots can be read by the voting device regardless of how you insert the ballot into the system. If the system detects too many markings for a single office or question, an error report will be printed, and the ballot will be returned to the voter for a new ballot to be issued.
• If you need assistance or would like to use the audioassisted ballot system, let a precinct official know. You do not have to show proof of a disability to use the audioassisted ballot system.
• Be sure to bring an approved form of identification. Federal and state issued photo IDs, passports, and tribal-issued, photo IDs are accepted. You may also use the voter identification card you were mailed when you registered.
If you forget your voter ID or your name is not found in the Precinct Registry, you may still cast a provisional ballot by signing an affidavit. A provisional ballot is sealed in a special envelope and counted after Election Day once the voter’s information has been verified by the County Election Board. Election results cannot be certified until all provisional ballots have been researched, verified, and counted.
Rice says election officials are there to assist voters and ensure all procedures are followed on Election Day. If you believe a law has been violated. Contact precinct or county election officials immediately. Do not wait until you leave the polling location.
Voting activity is generally slowest during the mid-morning and mid-afternoon, but the Election Board says lines and wait times can vary from precinct to precinct. All voters who want to cast a ballot should be in line no later than 7 p.m.
“Anyone who is in line by 7 p.m. on Tuesday and eligible to vote, will be allowed to vote,” Rice said.
You can locate your polling location using the State Election Board’s OK Voter Portal at oklahoma.gov/elections/ovp.
The Blaine County Election Board is located at 212 N Weigle and is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. For questions, please contact the Election Board at 580-623-5518.