Election board officials reported 223 residents registered to vote in September, and even more were coming into the office with inquiries, in the Sequoyah County Courthouse annex in Sallisaw, this week.
And those who want to vote in the Nov. 4 presidential election should hurry to register, Kathy Webb, Sequoyah County Election Board secretary, said Monday, because Friday is the last day to register in order to vote in the election.
The election board staff said records showed that 25 people changed their party affiliations in September, 83 people registered as Democrats, 99 people registered as Republicans and 41 people registered as independents. They reported that 150 people registered to vote during one week in September.
Of those visiting or calling the election board, many have just checked in to see if they are registered to vote, if their registration is up to date, and if they are registered in the precinct in which they now live.
One woman, in her 70s, registered last month for the first time in her life.
Webb said she is expecting a large turnout for the presidential election.
"I expect a big turnout," she said. "In the 2004 election we had a 70 percent turnout. That was great. Even the Associated Press called to check the numbers. We have over 14,400 voters in the 2004 presidential election. I wouldn't be surprised if we don't have that many or more this year."
Election board records showed 22,115 Sequoyah County residents were registered to vote in the election this year. Of that number, 16,338 are registered as Democrats, 4,293 are registered Republicans, and 1,484 are registered as independents.
Webb is urging all those who want to vote Nov. 4 to register by Friday. She said that those who are U.S. citizens, residents of Oklahoma, and at least 18 years old may apply to become registered voters.
Persons who have never been registered to vote before or who are not currently registered in the county of their residence, and persons who are registered but who need to change their registration information may apply to register or to change name, address or political affiliation by filling out and mailing an Oklahoma Voter Registration Application form in time for it to be postmarked no later than midnight Friday.
"Applications postmarked after that time will be accepted and processed, but the applications will not be approved until after Nov. 4," Webb said.
She explained the election board responds in writing to every person who submits an application for voter registration. The response is either a voter identification card listing the new voter's precinct number and polling place location or a letter that explains the reason or reasons the application for voter registration was not approved. Webb said that any person who has submitted a voter registration application and who has not received a response within 30 days should contact the county election board office.
The voter registration applications forms are available at the election board office at 117 S. Oak, at all post offices and public libraries in the county, and at the tag agencies in the county.
