More Than 200 Races, Propositions Will Be Up For Vote On Tuesday, April 6

It may not be November, but Tuesday, April 6, is an election day that will affect a lot of people in Oklahoma.

Everything from school board seats, to mayoral races, all the way up to filling a vacant seat in the state Senate will be on the ballots. 

The state elections board said even though it's not a presidential race, it's still important to get out and vote.

"We actually have 73 of our 77 counties who have elections," said Misha Mohr, state election board spokeswoman.

That makes about 230 races across the state. The biggest position up for grabs is the senate seat for District 22, the seat left vacant by U.S. Rep. Stephanie Bice. 

There are mayoral elections in Edmond, Harrah, and Norman. Edmond could possibly see its first African American mayor. 

Mohr said it's these smaller, more local elections that affect our day-to-day lives, but see the least amount of people casting ballots.

"A lot of times, there's special propositions on the ballot that may impact things that directly affect your community. It may affect your taxes. It may affect who's representing you in your community," said Mohr. 

One of those propositions is on the Mustang Public Schools' $10.9 million school improvement bond. Almost $4 million of that would go towards technology, after the pandemic highlighted weak links. 

Mohr said there's a way to do some research so voters will know what's on the ballot before heading to the polls.

"And also take a look at your sample ballot because that's a great way to get an idea of what's on the ballot and be prepared when you go to the polls," Mohr said.

There's also more than two dozen city council seats on the ballots on Tuesday, including two wards in Oklahoma City. Fourteen school boards have candidates vying for seats. 

Polling places can be found online. If you're worried about crowds at polling places, Mohr said certain times of the day usually see less foot traffic.

"Some of the best times to vote would be mid-morning or mid-afternoon. The line isn't as long," Mohr said.

Voters are encouraged to wear a mask. Other COVID precautions will be in place.