Major turnout for first early voting day in Oklahoma, with Cleveland County leading the pack

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — Thousands of people showed up to cast ballots across the state on Oklahoma’s first day of early voting on Wednesday, and more voters turned out in Cleveland County than any other county in the state.

As of 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, the Oklahoma State Election Board reported 63,794 people had cast ballots in-person on Wednesday.

Of the state’s three most populated counties, 5,929 people had voted in Oklahoma County, 5,171 voted in Tulsa County and 6,586 voted in Cleveland County.

News 4 observed lines at polling places in Oklahoma City, Edmond, Tulsa, Moore and Norman with long lines running out the door from the moment polls opened Wednesday until the moment they closed.

In some cases, voters told News 4 they waited upwards of four hours to cast their ballots Wednesday.

“It just tickles me pink to know that that we have so many people wanting to exercise their right to vote today,” said Paul Ziriax, Oklahoma State Election Board Secretary.

Ziriax said nearly every polling location in the state—urban, suburban and rural—experienced high voter turnout and long lines on Wednesday.

“We've heard from across the state where, an hour before early voting even started in some places, there were already long lines,” Ziriax said. “So you had county election officials who were behind already before they could even allow people to come in and start voting.”

Despite it being Oklahoma’s third most-populous county, more people cast votes Wednesday in Cleveland County than anywhere else in the state.

“Cleveland County, I think historically, if you go back, especially the last several years, they seem to have a population there that likes to vote early,” Ziriax said.

In Cleveland County, voters can choose from four different locations to vote early.

That’s more than any other county in the state.

The state’s two most-populated counties, Oklahoma County and Tulsa County, only give their voters two locations to cast votes early.

At a polling location in Cleveland County, News 4 observed out the door and still growing 10 minutes before polls closed at 6 p.m.

Ziriax wants to remind voters, as long as you are in line before polls close, you will be allowed to cast your ballot after closing time.

“If you're in line when the polls close, there will be somebody that comes out and marks the last person in line and then you'll be the last one to vote,” Ziriax said. “Don't give up. Voting is worth it.”