HOW DOES THE CURRENT PRIMARY SYSTEM WORK IN OKLAHOMA?

Oklahoma currently has a closed primary system.

In such a system, only voters registered with a particular party may vote in that party’s primary election.*

*Oklahoma law allows each political party to decide each election cycle whether to let independents to vote in their primaries. At times, the Democratic Party has allowed independents to vote, but this is not guaranteed or the case every election cycle.

Oklahoma United supports moving to a unified PRIMARY.

There are many types of open primary systems. We support a unified ballot system. In this type of election, all candidates, regardless of party, run on one primary ballot with their party affiliation listed by their name. All registered voters, regardless of their party, then vote for their preferred candidate. The two candidates receiving the most votes, regardless of party affiliation, move to the general election.

WHY DO WE NEED TO CHANGE OUR CURRENT PRIMARY SYSTEM?

Voters should be able to participate in elections they're paying for with their tax dollars.

The current system is particularly unfair to independents, who make up 20 percent of the voting population and are in many cases completely disenfranchised or forced to join a political party. Similarly, Republicans in heavily Democratic areas or Democrats in heavily Republican areas are often robbed of the chance to cast a meaningful vote.

VOTERS DESERVE the freedom to vote for the best candIdates.

Government functions better when we lessen the influence of political insiders and encourage candidates to be responsive to the will of all their constituents.

Voter turnout is the sign of a healthy democracy. Unfortunately, Oklahoma ranks 50th in voter turnout compared to other states, owing to a system that discourages competitive races and disenfranchises hundreds of thousands of voters.

WHAT CAN BE DONE TO FIX THE CURRENT PRIMARY SYSTEM?

Concerned citizens can file an initiative petition with the Oklahoma Secretary of State. After a period for the public to review the filing, the proponents of the new state question will have 90 days to collect 172, 993 signatures (15 percent of the total votes cast for governor in 2022). If the proponents are successful, Governor Kevin Stitt will set a date for an election. At that point, Oklahomans will vote on whether to move the state to an open primary system.

ARE WE PROPOSING MOVING TO A LOUISIANA-STYLE SYSTEM?

No. Oklahoma United is simply proposing a "unified primary."

Louisiana has a “one and done” system that eliminates primaries altogether. Louisianans vote only in November and if a candidate receives more than 50%, there is no subsequent match.

Our proposal is to keep primaries, keep party labels, let all voters vote, and assure there are two candidates in a contested general election.

OKLAHOMA ELECTIONS BY THE NUMBERS:

Oklahoma ranked 50th as a state in voter turnout in the last presidential election.
Less than one-in-four Oklahoma voters under 30 cast a vote in the 2022 primary elections.
One-in-five Oklahoma voters, over 460,000 and growing, are independents who are excluded from participating in primary elections they help fund..
A Bipartisan Policy Center analysis suggests that states with open primaries have 4 percent greater voter turnout than states with closed primaries.
Fifty of the 127 state senators and representatives up for reelection are running unopposed in 2024.*
Thirty-five House races in 2024 will be settled in the June 18 primary election or the August 27 run-off because candidates in only one party filed.*
Nearly 70 percent of State Legislature races did not appear on the November general election ballot in 2022, having been decided either in a primary or because of a candidate running unopposed.*
The voters in 71 of Oklahoma’s 77 counties will not vote for sheriff in November because the races will be decided in partisan primaries or at filing.

*Source: Oklahoma Watch

OPEN VS. CLOSED PRIMARIES ACROSS THE U.S.

Oklahoma is one of 12 states with a closed primary. We need your help to change that.

PLEASE DONATE TO HELP US REPEAL CLOSED PRIMARIES IN OKLAHOMA. ANY AMOUNT HELPS!

CONTRIBUTE

RECENT NEWS

We're the talk of the town ... and state.

The Oklahoman, 9/25/24

Hundreds of thousands of Oklahomans whose voter registration was deleted in recent years roughly reflect the overall layout of party affiliation in the state, though Democrats and independents were overrepresented among voters deleted for inactivity ...

... It’s no surprise that Democrats and independents show greater inactivity than Republicans in Oklahoma, said Pat McFerron, a conservative campaign consultant and polling expert.

The vast majority of consequential partisan elections in Oklahoma are decided in Republican primaries, well before Democrats and independents get the chance to weigh in, McFerron said. Very few General Election races in the state are competitive enough to be decided by 10% or less of the vote.

When pollsters like McFerron call inactive voters, many say they’re unlikely to vote because they’re not interested in government and politics, he said, and the other common response is “they just don’t think their vote matters.”

Only the Democratic Party in Oklahoma has opened its primary elections to independent voters. The state’s Republican and Libertarian parties have not.

Implementing open or unified primaries could help engage more people, McFerron said. These concepts would allow registered voters to participate in primary elections regardless of their party affiliation, and it could make every candidate accountable to every voter.

A campaign to bring open or unified elections to Oklahoma is underway. McFerron said he is working with the initiative.

“Oklahoma is now 50th in the nation in voter turnout for November elections, and if we don’t do something to change it, we’re going to continue to have less and less civic engagement,” McFerron said.

Read the story here.

Watch OKC Mayor David Holt on Flashpoint, 9/22/24

We were excited to see OKC Mayor David Holt on “Flashpoint” — the go-to show for Oklahoma politicos — last weekend discussing his support for Open Primaries! Mayor Holt correctly and persuasivelyargues that our current, closed system insulates candidates from the majority of their constituents and caters to extremes. Open primaries, on the other hand, ensure every candidate has to pursue the support of a majority of all their constituents, leading to better elections and ultimately better government.

We invite you to watch the clip below! Former Lt. Gov. Todd Lamb brings up several questions during the segment (which Mayor Holt answers), but we wanted to offer some commentary as well:

What other states have open primaries?

Oklahoma is one of only 12 states with closed primaries. The other 38 have some form of an open primary in which independents are allowed to vote.

Are we proposing moving to a Louisiana-style system?

Oklahoma United is proposing a “unified primary,” which is not what Louisiana uses. Louisiana has a “one and done” system that eliminates primaries altogether. Louisianans vote in November and there is no subsequent match between two candidates unless a candidate fails to receive over 50 percent of votes cast.

Our proposal is to keep primaries, keep party labels, let all voters vote, and assure there are two candidates in a contested general election.

Is a unified primary a new and risky system?

No! Every city and town in Oklahoma already uses a unified primary ballot today when they vote for mayor. Not coincidentally, local government approval ratings and electorate satisfaction are consistently much higher than they are for the State Legislature, which is elected via the current closed primary system.

Oklahomans are familiar with unified primary ballots and correctly view them as simple, straightforward, and fair.

Watch the September 22, 2024 segment here.

Oklahoma Voice Op-Ed, 9/15/24

"Oklahoma's election system frustrates this politics editor. No wonder other voters don't show up.

OKLAHOMA CITY — For the first time in many years, I didn't vote in an Oklahoma primary election.

Read here.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR, The Oklahoman, 9/15/24

"Open primaries would improve voter turnout"

The current system of closed primaries is horrible. If anything, it discourages people from voting. Why go to the polls when you have very little choice or don't care for the people running in your party? I am all for open primaries, which would hopefully increase voter turnout.

- Cindy Westbrook, Oklahoma City-

Listen to AJ Griffin on The Ride with Chad Alexander, 9/6/24

A lively discussion about Oklahoma United's efforts to repeal closed primaries in Oklahoma.

"This is not a partisan issue. This is a representative government issue. Do we want representative government regardless of what flavor that is? If we want representative government, we need to tweak our process so that it allows it to be more reflective of the populace."

- AJ Griffin

Listen here.

Oklahoma Voice, 8/30/24

OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma’s voting system is leading to low turnout rates, the election of more extreme candidates and disenfranchisement of voters who are excluded from participating in primary elections, experts said.

That’s prompting conversations about whether reforms are needed to increase voter participation rates and how the state can ensure hundreds of thousands of independent voters have a voice at the ballot box at a time when most outcomes are determined months ahead of November’s general election.

Read here.

TULSA WORLD, 8/29/24

OP-ED BY MARGARET KOBOS, OKUNITED FOUNDER & CEO

TULSA - Political attention may be on the presidential election on Nov. 5, but Oklahomans have largely wrapped up the business of selecting the majority of our state and local officials.

That’s because in Oklahoma’s closed primary system, the important elections — where officials are chosen who make policies concerning education, transportation and public safety — happen in June and August. By the time the November election occurs, there are very few meaningful decisions left for Oklahomans to make.

Of the 127 state legislative seats up for grabs this year, 85 (more than two-thirds) were filled in a partisan primary in June or August. The numbers for sheriff are stunning — 71 of Oklahoma’s 77 counties will either select a sheriff in a primary election or rubber stamp an unopposed candidate. Even when candidates for offices like state Legislature appear on a November ballot, the vast majority of these contests are lopsided affairs coronating the winner of whichever major party dominates a particular district.

This means the elections that matter are primary elections. In Oklahoma’s closed primary system, independents are completely locked out of Republican primaries and are allowed to participate in Democratic primaries only at the discretion of the party.

This means Oklahoma’s fastest growing voting population, more than 20% of our electorate, is effectively disenfranchised from the most important elections, even though partisan primaries are funded with all our tax dollars.

Read here.

Check it out! Watch the highlights from the UnmuteOK campaign launch.

Home

HOW DOES THE CURRENT PRIMARY SYSTEM WORK IN OKLAHOMA?

Oklahoma currently has a closed primary system.

Oklahoma United supports moving to a unified PRIMARY.

WHY DO WE NEED TO CHANGE OUR CURRENT PRIMARY SYSTEM?

Voters should be able to participate in elections they're paying for with their tax dollars.

VOTERS DESERVE the freedom to vote for the best candIdates.

WHAT CAN BE DONE TO FIX THE CURRENT PRIMARY SYSTEM?

ARE WE PROPOSING MOVING TO A LOUISIANA-STYLE SYSTEM?

No. Oklahoma United is simply proposing a "unified primary."

OKLAHOMA ELECTIONS BY THE NUMBERS:

OPEN VS. CLOSED PRIMARIES ACROSS THE U.S.

Oklahoma is one of 12 states with a closed primary. We need your help to change that.

PLEASE DONATE TO HELP US REPEAL CLOSED PRIMARIES IN OKLAHOMA. ANY AMOUNT HELPS!

RECENT NEWS

We're the talk of the town ... and state.

The Oklahoman, 9/25/24

Watch OKC Mayor David Holt on Flashpoint, 9/22/24

Oklahoma Voice Op-Ed, 9/15/24

"Oklahoma's election system frustrates this politics editor. No wonder other voters don't show up.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR, The Oklahoman, 9/15/24

"Open primaries would improve voter turnout"

Listen to AJ Griffin on The Ride with Chad Alexander, 9/6/24

A lively discussion about Oklahoma United's efforts to repeal closed primaries in Oklahoma.

Oklahoma Voice, 8/30/24

TULSA WORLD, 8/29/24

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