22 publishers · first seen Sun, 01 Nov 2026 12:45 UTC · updated Wed, 04 Nov 2026 01:24 UTC
The 2026 election in Oklahoma has seen a significant increase in early voting, with about 230,000 Oklahomans casting their ballots early, equivalent to 9.3% of the state's 2.4 million registered voters. This represents a 40% increase in in-person absentee voting from the 2022 gubernatorial election, although mail absentee voting declined. Democrats had the highest early-voting participation rate relative to their share of registered voters, with nearly 89,000 Democrats voting early, representing about 14% of Oklahoma's 622,000 registered Democrats. Early voting has been more popular among Democrats this election, according to USA TODAY. However, Republicans led early voting in 71 of Oklahoma's 77 counties, while Democrats led in six.
Early voting numbers show increased turnout among Black voters, young people and other groups that typically support Democrats. Polls show Democrats winning enough seats to take control of the House, while control of the Senate remains up for grabs. The increase in early voting in Oklahoma has raised questions about whether it will translate into higher turnout on Election Day, as the state is known for having a relatively low voter turnout.
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