tudents not registered to vote in Norman have until Oct. 13 to register for the Nov. 7 general election, while those already registered will also get the chance to decide whether to keep a half-cent sales tax Aug. 22.

Cleveland County Board of Elections Secretary Paula G. Roberts said her office will be ready to handle last-minute voter registrations before the general election.

"We'll be here a little bit late," she said.

Roberts and her staff have a big job as they prepare for the upcoming elections, but they seem to be ready.

All of the votes were counted, and results were posted within about an hour and a half after polls closed in the primary election July 25.

Republican voters ousted incumbent District Attorney Tim D. Kuykendall and replaced him with Greg Mashburn, an Oklahoma County assistant district attorney who lives in Norman. Because no Democrat filed to run against the winner of the GOP primary, Mashburn automatically becomes the new district attorney.

The same applies for the primary winner in state representative District 91, where Mike Reynolds defeated Sheryl Johnson 56 percent to 43 percent. Since no Democrat filed to run, Reynolds automatically becomes the new house member.

Some other primary leaders still have to get past the August run-off election, however, such as the Democratic state senate candidates for District 16. Democratic voters in the district, which includes the area west and south of the OU campus, must decide whether to have Tim Emrich or John Sparks as their nominee after each of the two drew 35 percent of the primary vote, defeating a third man, Derrick Ott, who garnered 30 percent.

The winner will face Republican nominee Ron Davis, who defeated Wayne Maxwell in the GOP primary 52 percent to 47 percent.

Statewide, voters in both parties will narrow a field of four candidates for lieutenant governor to the two who will face off in November.

Republican voters will decide whether to send State Rep. Todd Heitt or State Sen. Scott Pruitt as their nominee, while Democratic voters will pick from between Rep. Jari Askins and former congressional aide Pete Regan. State Sen. Cal Hobson, of Norman, failed to get enough votes in the July primary to make it to the August run-off.

Republican voters in Oklahoma County and the rest of the Fifth Congressional District will decide between Lt. Gov. Mary Fallin and Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett in the run-off, with the winner facing physician David Hunter, the Democratic nominee, for the congressional seat now occupied by U.S. Rep. Ernest Istook.

In the Fourth Congressional District, which includes Norman, incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Cole and former U.S. Foreign Service officer Hal Spake, the Democratic nominee, already have their places on the November ballot.

Voters in Norman will decide in August whether to let the city continue to collect a half-cent sales tax for another five years. City officials have promised to hire 91 new employees, most of which will be police officers, firefighters and code inspectors, if the measure passes.

In November, all voters will get the chance to weigh in on who should be Oklahoma's governor, as well as a number of other contests.

Incumbent Gov. Brad Henry, the Democrat, and Istook, the Republican, face off for the state's top job. The winners of what is now a four-way scramble for lieutenant governor will also have their names on the November ballot. Also running in that election is Norman resident and independent candidate Elmer "E.Z." Million.

Attorney General Edward "Drew" Edmondson, a Democrat, will face Republican challenger James Dunn, while November voters will also decide whether to keep state Treasurer Scott Meacham, a Democrat, or replace him with the winner of the Republican primary, former Secretary of Commerce Howard G. Barnett, Jr.

Voters will also pick from Democrat and incumbent Auditor Jeff A. McMahan and former State Republican Chairman Gary Jones, Democrat and incumbent Insurance Commissioner Kim Holland or State Rep. Bill Case, incumbent Labor Commissioner Brenda Reneau or Democrat and former state Rep. Lloyd L. Fields, incumbent Superintendent of Schools Sandy Garrett or Republican challenger Bill Cozier and Corporate Commissioner Bob Anthony or Cody Graves, a Democrat and a former corporate commissioner.

Locally, voters in state house District 45 will decide between Wallace Collins, the winner of July's Democratic primary, and incumbent Rep. Thad Balkman.

In District 46 voters will decide between Scott Martin, who won the Republican primary, and Democratic candidate Tom Robinson.

Voters will also choose county officers, although in Cleveland County Commission District 1 incumbent Republican Bill Graves automatically takes office after besting two challengers in the primary. No Democrat filed in that race.

In District 3 voters will decide from between incumbent Democrat Leroy Krohmer, who survived a primary challenge, and Republican nominee Rusty Sullivan.

Incumbent County Assessor Denise Heavner, a Democrat, is being challenged for her job by Republican Jim Helm, while Treasurer Saundra DeSelms, also a Democrat, is being challenged by Republican Ted L. Ryals.

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