Stand against fear. Make an informed vote.

Events of the last week have shaken all of us at Oklahoma Policy Institute, as they have many Oklahomans. Terrible violence based on hatred of another person’s race, religion, or ethnicity has existed throughout our country’s history, but so have courageous people coming together to stand against it.

While we mourn the victims in Pittsburgh and Kentucky and worry for the refugees seeking escape from violence and poverty in other nations, we are also proud to join with all of the Oklahomans, Americans, and human beings working every day to overcome hatred and make a better world.

When such tragedies occur, it is the responsibility of all of us who value diversity and believe in reconciliation to make ourselves heard even louder. In the local, state, and national elections happening next week, we have an opportunity to do this.

Early voting at County Election Boards begins this Thursday and Friday from 8am to 6pm and Saturday from 9am to 2pm. Then all polling places statewide will be open next Tuesday, November 6th from 7am to 7pm.

Besides races for Congress, Governor, other statewide offices, and the Legislature, Oklahomans will vote on several judicial elections, district attorney races, and local offices. There are also five state questions on the ballot on issues ranging from optometry to school funding.

To help you get more information on how to vote and what you need to know about the state questions, we’ve compiled resources on our 2018 State Questions and Elections page. There you will find links to locate your polling place, fact sheets on each of the state questions, information about judicial races and links to much more.

Thank you for being an informed voter and an engaged Oklahoman. Feel free to share this information with anyone who could use it.