McAlester News-Capital, McAlester, OK

Local News

July 7, 2009

Sales tax hike on Savanna ballot

From staff reports

Wednesday is the last day for Savanna voters to apply for mailed absentee ballots for the July 14 special election.

The measure on next week’s ballot would raise the city sales tax in Savanna from 3 percent to 5 percent to fund capital improvements to the town’s sanitary sewer system, for the acquisition of additional land if needed for the improvements, and for maintenance, including maintenance of the existing sewer system.

According to Pittsburg County Election Board Secretary Cathy Thornton, qualified voters have until 5 p.m. Wednesday to deliver applications to the board if they want to vote by a mailed absentee ballot.

Voters who wish to have an absentee ballot mailed to them for the Special Municipal Election at Savanna may apply in person — at 10 E. Washington Ave. in McAlester — or by phone or telegraph. The fax number for the Election Board is 423-7088.

In addition to mailed absentee ballots, qualified voters may cast in-person absentee ballots at the Election Board on Friday or Monday in advance of the Tuesday, July 14, election. A two-member, bipartisan Absentee Voting Board will be on duty at the Election Board during those two days, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., to assist in-person absentee voters.

“In-person absentee voters fill out an application form when they get to the office,” Thornton said of the process for in-person absentee voting. “They are not required to give a reason for voting absentee.

“They are required to swear that they have not voted a regular mail absentee ballot and that they will not vote at their polling place on election day.”

According to Thornton, the Absentee Voting Board verifies a voter’s registration information, then issues the voter a ballot. The voter marks the ballot in a voting booth and then puts it in the voting device.

“It is very much like voting at a precinct polling place,” Thornton said.

As with in-person absentee voting, any registered voter eligible to vote in the election may cast an absentee ballot by mail without stating a reason, Thornton said. In addition, voters may apply for absentee ballots for the following reasons:

• Registered voters who are physically incapacitated and voters who care for physically incapacitated persons who cannot be left unattended may apply for absentee ballots only by mail, by fax, or by telegraph.

• Registered voters who are confined to nursing homes in the county may apply only by mail, by fax, or by telegraph.

• Military personnel, residents of Pittsburg County living overseas and the spouses and dependents of each group are entitled to vote without being registered. They may apply only by mail or by fax.

Text Only
Local News
Seasonal Content
Poll

It's awards season? Which 85th Academy Award nominated movie for Best Picture is your fave?

"The Artist"
"The Descendants"
"Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close"
"The Help"
"Hugo"
"Midnight in Paris"
"Moneyball"
"The Tree of Life"
"War Horse"
     View Results
AP Video
Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout Video of Ga. Man Who Killed Girl Released Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart Nevada Highway Patrol, City Settle Beating Case Homs Bombardment Continues, Global Outcry Grows Raw Video: Dog Rescued From Icy Colo. Water Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
NDN Video
Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week 2012 Thomas' moratorium: 'I'm out, peace' Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life NASCAR Drive for Diversity VS Model Quits Over Religion Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart Osama Bin Laden Zombie Movie: "Osombie" Teaser Released Androgynous Model Walks Runway As Man and Woman Khloe Kardashian Responds to O.J. Rumors SportsTalk Live: Most hated athletes - 2/8 Louis Vuitton Condoms?! Tiger Woods 13: Legacy mode Michelle Obama vs. Jimmy Fallon Buffalo Barges Into Car Video of Ga. Man Who Killed Girl Released Has Iceland’s Nessie shown itself? Brady-ing is Latest Internet Meme Beyonce Is Sexy in Sequins Mo. Teen Gets Life Sentence for Killing Girl, 9 Zip-Lining Man Slams Into Tree
Parade
Magazine
Click HERE to read all your Parade favorites including Hollywood Wire, Celebrity interviews and photo galleries, Food recipes and cooking tips, Games and lots more.