Oklahoma

Early voting continues to outpace prior midterm cycles ahead of the Nov. 3 election. Nationally, more than 12.6 million Americans have voted early, with a CNN analysis of 25 states finding Democrats leading turnout among both high- and low-propensity voters, especially in Kansas and North Carolina. Iowa absentee ballots are up nearly 30% from four years ago, and Florida has topped 3.5 million ballots cast with Republicans narrowly ahead. Oklahoma saw a 41% jump in first-day turnout over 2022, driven largely by Democrats and independents, though Republicans still led overall. In Buncombe County, N.C., turnout has already surpassed all of 2022. Analysts caution early returns don't reliably predict final results.

A ConsumerAffairs analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data ranks the Jacksonville metro area No. 2 among the 100 largest U.S. metros for property taxes rising faster than home values from 2022 to 2024. The typical homeowner's tax bill rose 21.7% while median home values increased 8.1%, a gap second only to Lakeland-Winter Haven, Florida. Nationally, home values rose faster than taxes over the same period, though a five-year view shows Jacksonville home values up 63.1% since 2019, outpacing a 44.9% rise in taxes.

Florida's Amendment 3, needing 60% approval, would raise the non-school homestead exemption to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028 while cutting the non-homestead assessment-growth cap from 10% to 5%. Backed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, it has split Republicans and drawn opposition from police, firefighter, and county groups warning of billions in lost local revenue; proponents argue local governments can absorb cuts after years of rapid tax collection growth.

Election offices in more than two dozen states, plus numerous members of Congress, have received suspicious letters containing a white powdery substance in the days before the midterms. Tennessee, Ohio, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Oregon officials reported intercepted or opened packages, some prompting evacuations and hazmat responses; preliminary tests have found no hazardous material. Affected lawmakers include Sens. Alex Padilla, Ted Cruz, Amy Klobuchar and Chris Murphy, and several California representatives. The FBI, U.S. Postal Inspection Service and U.S. Capitol Police are investigating. Election official associations condemned the threats. Similar mailings targeted officials ahead of the 2024 election and in 2023, when some contained traces of fentanyl.

State Sen. Mary Boren, D-Norman, is inviting Oklahomans to share experiences and concerns about Flock Safety cameras ahead of an interim legislative study scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 21, at the state Capitol. The study will examine the widespread surveillance technology, which law enforcement agencies use to track vehicles, weighing issues of privacy, potential misuse and public safety benefits.

Boren's announcement cites reports of people being misidentified in criminal investigations through the camera network, as well as allegations that officials have misused tracking systems to monitor former partners. She framed the inquiry around Fourth Amendment protections against unnecessary surveillance, while also raising questions about the profit motives of camera vendors alongside genuine public safety concerns. Residents can submit their experiences, questions or concerns directly to her office by email ahead of the hearing.

The study reflects growing scrutiny nationwide of automated license plate reader networks, as lawmakers and civil liberties advocates increasingly question oversight, data access and accountability for surveillance tools marketed to police departments.

A City of Moore, Oklahoma animal welfare employee has been placed on administrative leave following a report of suspected embezzlement. Police said the alleged misconduct involved an association listing a P.O. box in Moore, and the investigation dates back to early August. The employee was identified by the city as Nicole McKim, who had been serving as interim superintendent of Moore Animal Welfare after Stephanie Adams-Hawkins' abrupt resignation from the role earlier this year.

The case follows weeks of resident pressure for answers about turmoil at the shelter, with Moore's mayor and city council facing public calls for accountability. Residents credited Adams-Hawkins with improving conditions, reducing euthanasia rates, and expanding foster and rescue programs before she left. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation has now taken over the inquiry due to jurisdictional concerns, and the city has not confirmed whether McKim's leave is tied to the financial misconduct complaint or a separate review of the animal welfare department. Moore also recently approved a new volunteer oversight board to monitor the shelter's finances.

Kansas, which has not elected a Democrat to the Senate since 1932, has become an unexpected midterm battleground. Republican Sen. Roger Marshall faces a tighter-than-anticipated race against megachurch pastor Adam Hamilton, with recent polls, including a YouGov survey, showing Hamilton narrowly ahead. The Cook Political Report has moved the contest from "Likely Republican" to "Toss Up," prompting the GOP's Senate Leadership Fund to pour millions into a seat once considered safe. Hamilton, pastor of the country's largest Methodist congregation, draws support across party lines and is campaigning heavily in red, agriculture-heavy counties.

Analysts attribute the shift to voter frustration over the economy, rising diesel and fertilizer costs during harvest season, tariff disputes affecting farmers and ranchers angered by eased beef-import tariffs, and immigration enforcement actions. Marshall, a close Trump ally endorsed by the president, retains a fundraising edge but faces scrutiny over lawsuits against patients with unpaid bills, some of whom were arrested. Trump's declining approval in the state has complicated Marshall's path, with Republicans outnumbering Democrats nearly two to one statewide, making Hamilton's bid for unaffiliated and crossover voters pivotal to national Senate control.