It was another good election for Oklahoma Republicans, who didn’t have to stay up late on Election Day last month to learn they would remain in power. Not only was that outcome expected, but the state’s election results typically get posted within a few hours of the polls closing. In recent years, as some swing states have received increased attention and dealt with razor-thin margins, Oklahoma lawmakers have boasted about their quick count.
“Why can’t Pennsylvania be more like Oklahoma?” many lawmakers like to ask. Yes, it’s part praise for Oklahoma’s election system, but it’s also a small nod to the baseless theories that something’s not right in some of these blue-leaning states.
But comparing Oklahoma to these states is rather foolish. Asking why Pennsylvania can’t get its vote count done as quickly as Oklahoma is like asking why Philadelphia can’t have better traffic like Oklahoma City. Size matters.
However, if Oklahoma lawmakers want to continue their smugness over local election efficiency, they must find ways to get more poll workers. These democratic heroes oversee the vote at each precinct. But earlier this year, it was reported that as many as 75% of counties were facing a poll worker shortage.
This article appears in New Year’s Eve Guide.