Convincing You to Vote
Plus, the 2024 election calendar, a metro area county, and rubbing Will's shoes for luck.
Unfortunately, or fortunately, depending on your political view, next year is a Presidential election year. We are a little under a year until the general election on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. You are about to be inundated with political advertising on TV, the radio, in your mailbox, in your inbox, on the web, and with signs littering the roadsides. You are going to hear from every flavor of reporter, pollster, commentator, pundit, negotiator, agitator, troll, and crazy uncle under the azure Oklahoma sky. And from all indications, it’s going to be ugly … again.
One of the primary things I like to do here at Blog Oklahoma is keep people informed on voting. I try my best to encourage everyone to vote. Voting is one of the most important things you can do as a citizen. I also hope to convince you it is easy to vote in Oklahoma.
In future newsletters, I’ll talk about voting in Oklahoma, such as how to register to vote, how to vote absentee, and what is on the ballot. Though not in a row, I don’t want to bore you. Ha! If you want to get a head start, visit oklahoma.gov/elections.
2024 Oklahoma Election Calendar
First off, though. It’s time to mark your calendars. Here are some important 2024 election dates for you to make note of:
Board of Education / Presidential Candidate Filing: December 4 - 6, 2023 (8 a.m. - 5 p.m.)
January 9, 2024: Special Elections Propositions Only
February 13, 2024: Board of Education Primary Elections
March 5, 2024: Presidential Preferential Primary Elections
April 2, 2024: Board of Education General Elections
State and Federal Candidate Filing: April 3 - 5, 2024 (8 a.m. - 5 p.m.)
June 18, 2024: Primary Elections
August 27, 2024: Runoff Primary Elections
November 5, 2024: General Elections
In The News
A look at some of the latest headlines from around Oklahoma and beyond.
More than 215 new Oklahoma laws take effect Wednesday (November 1, 2023) | Oklahoma Voice
Oklahoma programs invest millions to address teacher shortage | KOCO
Governor Stitt establishes task force on campaign finance and election threats, despite existing confidence in Oklahoma's election integrity | KOKH Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt visits Israel ‘in a show of solidarity’ amid war with Hamas | Oklahoma Voice
Moody's gives Oklahoma improved credit rating in wake of rainy day fund growth | Public Radio Tulsa
USDA finds almost 250,000 Oklahoma households face food insecurity | KOSU
Clinton hospital reopening with emergency, radiology, lab services | Nondoc
Biden launches ‘Investing in Rural America’ push with Cabinet officials | Oklahoma Voice
In Oklahoma History
William Penn Adair Rogers was born in the Cherokee Nation of Indian Territory near present-day Oologah, Oklahoma, on November 4, 1879.
You know, instead of typing out a full biography of Will Rogers, I’ll let you learn all about this vaudeville performer, movie actor, radio star, political humorist, and Oklahoma’s favorite son on your own. There are many articles, books, and documentaries on him that will do him better justice than what I can write about here in this newsletter.
However, I’d like to point out that Will Rogers still makes an impact on political commentary even to this day. In fact, you can find Will Rogers on the TV news many nights. You’ll see many a reporter, political commentator, or congressperson standing right in front of Will Rogers when broadcasting from the U.S. Capitol.
This statue of Will Rogers representing the state of Oklahoma was erected in the National Statuary Hall at the Capitol Building in 1939.
Notice his shiny shoes? There’s a tradition that it is good luck to rub his shoes while passing.
More Information:
Rogers, William Penn Adair | The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture
Will Rogers still watches the lawmakers on Capitol Hill he loved to spoof | The Hill
About Oklahoma: Canadian County
Welcome to Canadian County.
Canadian County is in the center-west of the state. The county started off as County Four when Oklahoma Territory was established in 1890. The county would later be named Canadian after the Canadian River, which runs through the county.
El Reno, Oklahoma, located near the center of the county at the intersections of Interstate 40 and U.S. Highway 81, is the county seat and home of the world-famous fried onion burger.
Other notable cities and towns include parts of Okarche and Piedmont in the northern, Yukon, Mustang, and parts of Oklahoma City in the eastern, Union City in the southern, and Calumet and parts of Geary in the western parts of the county.
Canadian County is included in the greater Oklahoma City metro area and is also along Historic Route 66 and The Chisholm Trail.
Established: 1890
County Seat: El Reno, Oklahoma 73036
Nation: Cheyenne and Arapaho / Wichita & Affiliated Tribes / Caddo / Delaware
Map: Google Maps
Area: 900 mi2 (2,331 km2)
Population: 154,405 (2020 Census)
Time Zone: UTC−6 (Central), DST observed
Area Code: 405, 572
Congressional District: 3, 5
State House District: 41, 43, 47, 55, 56, 60
State Senate District: 18, 22, 23, 26, 44, 45
Weather: NWS Norman
Tourism Region: Frontier Country
History: Oklahoma Historical Society
Historic Places: Exploring Oklahoma History
More Information: Wikipedia
Extras
Here are some more things I hope you'll find interesting.
The Beatles - Now And Then (Official Music Video)
The Beatles - Now And Then - The Last Beatles Song (Short Film)
The Beatles “Now And Then” My Reaction & Breakdown | Rick Beato
A One-in-a-Million Game… | CGP Grey
Feedback Welcome
If you have any comments or questions, please feel free to leave a comment on Substrack, email me at blogoklahoma@blogoklahoma.net, or connect with me at Mastodon at @blogoklahoma@social.tulsa.ok.us or Threads at @blogoklahoma@threads.net.
Have a great week.
– K.