Casady Hosts Voter Registration Drive
John Hughes (‘24), News Editor
Voter turnout in the United States remains one of the most important issues that faces our nation today. After extraordinary turnout in the 2018 and 2022 midterm elections and the 2020 presidential election, it seems as though the United States may be heading toward a culture of habitual voting in the future; however, many Americans’ names do not appear on registration rolls. As an avid proponent of fair democracy, I task myself with ensuring that my friends and family know when and where to vote and how much weight their votes actually carry. I hold a vested interest in increasing voter turnout because when more people vote, we apply more pressure on our elected officials to actually work for us and work together to make pragmatic decisions.
After the successful efforts of last year’s voter registration drive before the 2022 midterm elections, I hosted another voter registration drive on February 5, 2024, during the x20 and Activities periods and during the x50 period, where I provided voter registration forms to allow anyone who wishes to register to fill out the form. In order to register, one brings their valid Oklahoma drivers license or their social security number. They also need to know their street address, so that the Election Board can accurately identify them during the verification process. After school on February 5, I delivered the completed voter registration forms to the Oklahoma State Capitol, so that the registrees did not have to do any more work other than show up and fill out the form. The timing of this drive will prove crucial to voter turnout in the presidential preferential primary elections, which will take place in Oklahoma on March 5, 2024. During this Election Day, known as “Super Tuesday,” voters cast their ballots in the Democratic and Republican primaries in many states across the country to help each state send delegates to the Republican and Democratic national conventions where the delegates will choose presidential nominees for November.
Polling places on March 5 for the presidential primaries will be open from 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m., and if you still remain in line at 7:00 p.m., election workers will allow you to cast your vote. If you wish to vote early, travel to your county election board on February 29 through March 1, from 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., and on March 2, from 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. For more information on where to vote and to find sample ballots, please visit the website of the Oklahoma Election Board at https://okvoterportal.okelections.us/ and enter your name and birthdate to access your voter portal.
I highly encourage all students and faculty who will be age 18 or older by March 5 to plan to cast their ballots in the presidential primaries, the regular primary elections in June, and in the November general election. Now more than ever, we as voters must stand up and make sure the country hears the voices of Oklahoma. Let’s make this happen!
