Voters to go to the polls Tuesday to decide federal, state, county and local races

After four busy days of early voting, residents will get the chance to vote the traditional way Tuesday when polls open for the 2024 General Election.

Voters will be receiving multiple ballots, because decisions include federal, state and county races, a City Council race if you live in Lawton’s Ward 2, two state questions and a county proposal to allow retailers to sell alcohol on Sundays.

The major draw in the election is expected to be the presidential election between former President Donald Trump, a Republican, and Vice President Kamala Harris, a Democrat (there also are two independents on the ballot in Oklahoma). But, Comanche County voters also will be selecting a new sheriff for the first time in more than 30 years, after longtime Sheriff Kenny Stradley decided he would not seek re-election.

That countywide ballot will contain the names of Michael Merritt, the Republican nominee who beat two other candidates for the chance to enter the General Election, and David Stroud, the Democratic nominee. Both men have backgrounds in public safety. Merritt, currently the Comanche County undersheriff, has served as a detective-corporal, and also served as Comanche County Emergency Management director and spent 25 years with Lawton Fire Department. Stroud worked for the Comanche County Detention Center before moving to the sheriff’s office, where, after graduating from CLEET training, he worked in the patrol, extradition transport, legal paper service and courthouse security divisions.

Voters in Lawton City Council Ward 2 will be choosing a new council representative after Incumbent Kelly Harris decided he would not seek re-election. Candidates in that non-partisan race include Shelli Fox and R.L. Smith. Fox worked for Lawton Police Department for 17 years in telecommunications and trainer, and was a licensed EMT for six years. Smith retired as a sergeant from Lawton Police Department, after serving in the department for 20 years, and also served in the U.S. Army and now is a realtor in the Lawton area.

Voters across the county also will be deciding a proposal created by former District 1 County Commissioner Trent Logan: allowing licensed retailers to sell alcoholic beverages on Sunday.

County commissioners voted to put the question on the ballot earlier this year, with Logan explaining the issue is one of revenue: if the county allows the sale of alcohol on Sundays, it will be allowed to collect the taxes on those sales, generating more revenue for county operations. Logan said the proposal was one of several he explored while trying to help generate additional revenue that would, in turn, help county finances. The decision is allowed by 2017 law, which allows retail package liquor stores to sell alcohol on Sundays on a county-option basis. State law now limits retail stores to selling alcohol Mondays through Saturdays, unless a county votes to allow Sunday sales.

Voters also will decide on two state questions: Amending the State Constitution to specify that only a citizen (rather than every citizen) of the U.S. may vote in elections; and allowing municipalities to create public infrastructure districts when all property owners within the proposed district sign a petition, giving those districts the authority to issue bonds for public improvements if voters agree.

Comanche County ballots also will include three State House races, depending where in the county you live. Those races are: State House District 62: Incumbent Daniel Pae, Republican, and Allison Offield, Democrat; State House District 63: Incumbent Trey Caldwell, Republican, and Shykira Smith, Democrat; and State House District 64: Incumbent Rande Worthen, Republican, and Tom Sutherlin, Democrat.

On the federal level, all voters in Oklahoma’s Fourth Congressional District — including Comanche County — will decide whether long-time Republican Incumbent Tom Cole keeps his seat. Cole’s challengers are Mary Brannon, a Democrat, and James Stacy, an Independent.