Oklahomans never have to wait long for summer to arrive.
Experts will tell you that Sooner State residents can expect between 235 to 300 days of sun per year. Granted, some of those days come with wildly hot temperatures, but when it comes to sun – and overall warm weather – we get more than our share.
Somehow that makes time move quickly, too.
Look at the calendar and you’ll see there is only one more Sunday left in July.
Next up, August and with it the second election in our voting season – the runoff primary election.
On Aug. 25, voters will again have the opportunity to make their voices heard.
And, according to the Oklahoma Election Board, there are many choices. From U.S. senator to governor to state representative, voters have to continue their work. They need to narrow the field of candidates for this November’s general election.
But there’s a problem.
While voter turnout was low in this year’s primary election, it’s expected to be worse in August’s primary runoff election.
Granted, the reasons for an expected low turnout are as varied as the candidates themselves, but the fact remains that thousands of voters just skip the process. They skip the opportunity to make their voice heard. They skip the opportunity to participate. And yet, many of these same people will be the first to criticize a government action. They will raise their voice and point to those in office and blame them.
This low turnout needs to stop.
Oklahomans have, for decades, always had the ability to overcome problems and work hard to make life better for their fellow residents.
We have been handed huge problems and yet, even then, we have succeeded.
It’s time to do that again.
It’s time for all who can to go to the polls and make a choice.
It’s time for Sooners to cast a ballot and choose those individuals who will serve in our government. It’s time to think about our future – our children and our grandchildren and our great- grandchildren.
This state still has many problems that need to be addressed, and we Oklahomans need all those dedicated leaders we can find who are willing to work on our behalf.
We don’t need people who like to fight. We don’t need people who like name-calling.
We need people who want to solve problems.
And to find those individuals, we need people who are will to cast their ballots.
This August, don’t be one of those Oklahomans who sit on the sidelines and complain. Instead, be one of those willing to do their share and to work hard.
Our problems continue. And right now, we need people willing to take advantage of those sunny days to help fix those problems.
___ M. Scott Carter is an award-winning political and investigative reporter with more than 40 years’ experience covering federal and state government and politics in Oklahoma. He can be reached at scott. carter@ swoknews.com.