© 2024 Public Radio Tulsa
800 South Tucker Drive
Tulsa, OK 74104
(918) 631-2577

A listener-supported service of The University of Tulsa
classical 88.7 | public radio 89.5
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Public Radio Tulsa provides up-to-the-minute coverage of local election news from veteran Tulsa reporters John Durkee and Marshall Stewart. Listen to their stories during Morning Edition and All Things Considered.Here's the latest National Elections Coverage from NPR.

District 71 mess gets messier

Tulsa County Election Board HQ
KWGS News File Photo
Tulsa County Election Board HQ

Here is the problem:

2,833 ballots were cast, according to the ballot box machine. The Tulsa County Election Board can only account for 2,831. Even after finding two ballots after yesterday’s recount that changed the outcome, two more ballots are still missing.

Judge Damon Cantrell met with attorneys representing both candidates in the Special District 71 State House race. On election night, Democrat Dan Arthrell won the race by three votes. In yesterday’s recount, Republican Katie Henke won by one vote. However, the total ballots counted on election night and yesterday were not the same. Four ballots were missing.

Judge Cantrell told the attorneys today, he will consider holding a hearing Monday afternoon. A problem arises because the state election board is set to certify the ballot results Monday morning.  If that takes place Henke could be confirmed as the winner and take the oath of office before any hearing is held. She was not at today’s courthouse meeting.