Woodward, Okla. — Barack Obama has spent the last 4 years in the Oval Office. Mitt Romney has spent the last 4 years positioning himself to get there.

All told, the two men, their parties and supporters have spent hundreds of millions of dollars and tossed attack ads at each other right and left throughout the campaign season.

They will find out if the money and frenzied campaigning all worked on Tuesday. That's the day voters go to the polls across the nation to elect the next president.

Obama, the Democrat, has the power of incumbency. Romney, the Republican challenger, is trying to make the case the country needs a change in direction.

In Oklahoma, a close race is not likely.

Obama lost all 77 counties in Oklahoma to John McCain in 2008 and the president is not a popular figure in the state.

Romney hasn't spent much time campaigning in Oklahoma as the state is considered safely Republican. The state hasn't gone to a Democrat at the presidential level since 1964.

But much more than just a presidential decision awaits state voters on Tuesday.

The ballot is a lengthy one and Woodward County has a couple of additional races.

Here's a rundown:

United States District 3 Rep. - Veteran Congressman Frank Lucas, a Republican, is being challenged by Timothy Ray Murphy, a Democrat, and Independent William M. Sanders.

State Senator District 27 - Republican Bryce Marlatt is running for a second term. His opponent is Tommy Nicholson, an independent.

Woodward County Sheriff - Republican Gary Stanley is running for a second term and is opposed by Democrat Joe Adams.

Woodward County Commissioner District No. 2 - Democrat Bill Phillips and Republican Randy Johnson are running for an open seat.

Judicial retention: Voters will decided whether or not to retain 4 Supreme Court justices, 4 of the Court of Criminal Appeals justices and 5 justices on the Court of Civil Appeals.

Also on the ballot are 6 state questions:

• SQ 758 if approved would cap annual property tax increases at a maximum of 3 percent. Currently the maximum is 5 percent.

• SQ 759 if approved would outlaw affirmative action programs at the state, county and city levels and in school districts. If federal funding is involved, affirmative action would still be allowed.

• SQ 762  if approved would take the governor out of the parole process for certain nonviolent  offenders.

• SQ 763 if approved would allow the Oklahoma Water Resources board to expand its program of no-interest or low-interest loads to fund water and sewer projects primarily in rural communities.

• SQ 765 if approved would abolish the commission that runs the Department of Human Services and allow the legislature to create departments to carry out the function of DHS.

• SQ 766 if approved would exempt all intangible personal property from ad valorem taxes. Intangible property is described as property whose value is not derived from physical attributes but rather what it represents.

Polls are open on Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and voters are reminded to bring identification with them to the polls.

 

Where to vote

Pct. 101 - Woodward Regional Hospital, 1650 Main

Pct. 102 - Faith United Methodist Church, 1402 Texas

Pct. 104 - Mutual High School Gym

Pct. 105 - Mooreland High School Gym

Pct. 106 - Quinlan Methodist Church Fellowship Hall

Pct. 201 - Woodward High School, 13th and Downs

Pct. 202 - Woodward Senior Center, 1420 Downs

Pct. 203 - Sharon Methodist Church

Pct. 204 - Mutual High School Gym

Pct. 301 - NWOSU-Woodward campus - 2007 34th St.

Pct. 302 - Highland Park Elementary School, 28th and Webster

Pct. 303 - Woodward High School, 13th and Downs

Pct. 304 - First Assembly of God Church activity building, 3906 Lakeview

Pct. 306 - High Plains Technology Center, 3921 34th St.

Pct. 307 - Windle Hatchett Community Building, Fort Supply

Note: Due to the April 15 tornado, Pct. 302 has been temporarily moved from the Bank 7 Atrium to Highland Park Elementary School.