If you’re reading this before 7 p.m. Tuesday and haven’t yet cast your ballot, you might want to go get in line.

In an election that is historic on many levels - one of the more hotly contested Presidential races in the midst of a pandemic, with challenges to the results already threatened - voter turnout promises to shatter records as well.

In-person early voting Thursday through Saturday drew 1,174 voters to the Kingfisher County Courthouse.

Election Board Secretary Shawna Butts prepared in advance for the deluge by having plenty of precinct workers on hand to direct traffic and check IDs, as well as the usual work of issuing ballots and “I Voted” stickers.

That number compares to 822 in-person early voting in the 2016 presidential election and an average of around 125 in a nonpresidential year, Butts said.

With one more day left to receive mail-in ballots, Butts reported 613 had been submitted by Monday, compared to 329 in 2016.

(In Oklahoma, mail-in absentee ballots must be received by 7 p.m. on Election Day, regardless of when they are postmarked.)

The State Election Board says this is a unique election year for many reasons - the pandemic, a recent ice storm, and a surge in voter registration numbers.

State Election Board Secretary, Paul Ziriax, says Oklahoma’s county election boards are prepared.

“Our county election boards are facing challenges they’ve never experienced before, but they have been preparing for this election for months.

“We want to assure Oklahomans that every registered voter that wants to vote willbe able to vote. This election will be conducted safely, fairly, and securely.

“We ask that voters be patient and courteous not only to other voters, but election workers as well,” Ziriax said.

Times and Free Press staffers will be providing real time results on our Facebook Page as they come in Tuesday night.

Complete election coverage will appear in Sunday’s Times and Free Press.