Heated primary races could draw more people than usual to the polls today.

At the end of the three-day in-person absentee voting period Monday evening, 586 Muskogee County voters cast in-person ballots at the Muskogee County Election Board. Of those, 269 ballots were cast Monday.

“I think we’re going to have a good turnout tomorrow,” said assistant Muskogee County Election Board Secretary Ellen Thames on Monday. She said Democrats and Republicans both have full ballots.

The only county race is the Democratic Primary for District 1 Muskogee County Commissioner. Incumbent Gene Wallace of Fort Gibson faces a challenge from Muskogee businessman Steve Goad. The winner will have no Republican challengers in the general election. Muskogee County has a total of 40,930 registered voters.

Cherokee County Election Board Secretary Connie Parnell predicted about 60 percent of the county’s 24,952 registered voters will cast ballots in Tuesday’s election. She said early Monday afternoon that 650 people had voted in person Friday, Saturday and Monday morning.

Registered Democrats outnumber Republicans in Cherokee County by roughly 16,000 to 6,700, she said.

Cherokee County Democrats have plenty of choices on Tuesday ballots. In addition to the national and state races. Voters also must choose between incumbent Jerry Moore and former assistant district attorney Grant Huskey in the Democratic primary for District 27 district attorney. The winner of the primary will face Republican Brian J. Kuester in the general election Nov. 2. The district covers Cherokee, Wagoner, Sequoyah and Adair Counties.

Parnell said a three-way race to replace retiring assessor Erlene Luper likely also could draw more voters this year, she said. Candidates in the Democratic primary are Oklahoma State University extension office manager Fran Ridenhour, deputy assessor Marsha Trammel and former real estate agent Denyse Dunham-Finch. If no candidate gets more than 50 percent, the top two vote-getters will face each other in a runoff Aug. 24.

Parnell said the District 2 Congressional race also is attracting voters because of “a local candidate.” Incumbent Dan Boren is facing a challenge from State Sen. Jim Wilson of Tahlequah in the Democratic primary. Six candidates are running in the Republican primary: Daniel Edmonds of Morris, Charles Thompson of Hulbert, Chester Clem Falling of Chelsea, Daniel Arnett of Henryetta, Howard Houchen of Hugo and Raymond Wickson of Okmulgee.

Wagoner County has several heated county races in the Republican primary. Wagoner County Election Board Secretary Larry Wilkinson said he expects turnout to be about 50 percent.

Voters in Eufaula will decide on whether to broaden a 5 percent hotel/motel sales tax to include payroll costs. Eufaula Mayor Dean Smith said a hotel/motel tax has been in effect since 1995 to help the city fund development of parks and recreation facilities. People who stay at Eufaula hotels or motels pay the tax, he said. The proposition, which would not result in a tax increase, would allow the tax to cover payroll costs related to parks and recreation.

“We have so many events such as Whole Hawg Day and concerts that we need personnel,” he said. “This would allow us to pay overtime for special events or pay for a pool manager.”

A spokesman at the McIntosh County Election Board said 240 voters cast in-person absentee over the three-day period. The county has 12,458 registered voters.

Reach Cathy Spaulding at 684-2928 or cspaulding @muskogeephoenix.com.

Muskogee County

• Commissioner, District 1 — Democrat.

Gene Wallace, 67, Fort Gibson.

Steve Goad, 48, Muskogee.

Cherokee County

• Commissioner, District 1 —  Democrat.

Doug Hubbard, 56, Tahlequah.

Sam Marrs, 43, Tahlequah.

• Assessor — Democrat.

Fran Ridenhour, 53,  Hulbert.

Marsha Trammel, 56, Tahlequah.

Denyce Dunham-Finch, 54, Tahlequah.

• Treasurer — Democrat.

Inez Peace, 72, Tahlequah.

Debbie Dunham Duvall, 57, Tahlequah.

McIntosh County

• Commissioner, District 3 — Democrat.

Ronnie Layman, 62, Eufaula.

Michael Burns, 59, Stidham.

Neal James, 51, Checotah.

• Assessor — Democrat.

Jack Hogan, 58, Checotah.

Trina Williams, 46, Checotah.

• Sheriff — Democrat.

Wayne Rowell, 43, Checotah.

Mike Daniels, 51, Eufaula.

Kevin Ledbetter, 41, Checotah.

Rick Brookshire, 57, Checotah.

• City of Eufaula Hotel-Motel Tax Expansion.

Wagoner County

• Commissioner, District 1 — Republican.

Tom Vincent, 55, Broken Arrow.

James Hanning, 39, Broken Arrow.

Randy Patterson, 49, Broken Arrow.

David Tackett, 34, Broken Arrow.

Gerald L. Sherman, 63, Broken Arrow.

• Commissioner, District 3 — Republican.

Tim Kelley, 50, Coweta.

Doug Aitkenhead, 50, Broken Arrow.

Carla Hayes, 49, Coweta.

• Assessor — Republican.

Darla Moffett, 42, Broken Arrow.

Sandy Hodges, 55, Coweta.

• Treasurer — Republican.

Billie Mantooth, 63, Broken Arrow.

Dana Patten, 56, Coweta.