Video: Deadline approaches for Oklahoma voter registration ahead of primary election

Added: 2026-05-28

[00:00:00]New at 5:00 tomorrow is the [snorts] deadline to register to vote in the June primary elections. Voters will not only get to decide on candidates running for office this year, but also a state question. Fox 23's Devin Lion joins us live in studio with what's ahead for voters. And Devin, Oklahoma is also trying to improve improve voter turnout.

[00:00:19]>> That's right. Oklahoma has kind of consistently ranked near the bottom for voter turnout in general elections, and it's even worse for primaries. So, advocacy groups are out right now reminding people of tomorrow's deadline because June elections can sometimes be just as important as the ones out in November.

[00:00:36]Oklahoma has a problem. We have one of the worst turnouts in the United States as far as eligible voters going to the polls. It's even worse during the primary. Friday is the deadline to register for the June primary elections in Oklahoma. Voters will get to decide the primary candidates for governor, US Senate, and other state offices. There will also be a state question on the ballot for raising Oklahoma's minimum wage by a dollar 50 a year until it reaches a $15 minimum wage by 2029.

[00:01:02]Oftentimes, young people don't believe that their vote matters, that their vote will count. And unfortunately, it's a self-fulfilling prophecy.

[00:01:11]>> This Tulsa County Election Board is where thousands of voters will be for those June and November primary and general elections. But even with thousands, those numbers are still small. Oklahoma's voter turnout rate is just at 53%.

[00:01:26]So, zoom out with me here. On the national level, Michigan and Minnesota are at the top at the high 60 to 70s percentage range for voter turnouts.

[00:01:36]Oklahoma is dead last at that 53%.

[00:01:40]Okay, now zoom back in with me here.

[00:01:42]Back here at home, that deadline for the primary June elections is Friday, and it's the most commonly overlooked for the young 18 to 25 voter age. And with 3,000-plus 18-year-olds in Oklahoma this year.

[00:01:58]Missing Friday's registration deadline could mean missing their first chance at the polls and impacting those primary elections. Young people have one of the worst percentages of turnout in the United States as far as casting a ballot. And so young people do need to realize that they can make a difference.

[00:02:17]>> If you turn 18 by the June 16th election date, you can register to vote right now and cast your vote in those primary elections. For all ages, Oklahoma's voter turnout rate can be as low as 10% for primary elections. It's truly not complicated at all to register to vote.

[00:02:32]You can do it online. You can get the form. It must be postmarked by Friday to be counted.

[00:02:40]Now you can register online at the OK Voter Portal. I'll have a link to that on this story on fox23.com. If you do miss that deadline, you can still register to vote for the August or November elections. Those deadlines are in July and October. Live in studio covering news that matters, Stephen Lyons, Fox 23 News.