Push for Open Primaries Aims to Enhance Voter Participation in Oklahoma
A coalition named Oklahoma United is advocating for increased voter participation in Oklahoma by proposing a shift to open primary elections that would allow all voters, regardless of party affiliation, to cast their ballots. This initiative responds to the prevalent issue of many voters feeling disenfranchised in a state where state-level races are often determined in Republican primaries, leaving independents and Democrats without options on the ballot.
According to Jeremy Gruber, Senior Vice President at Open Primaries, a significant number of voters arrive at the polls with no candidates to support. He stated, “Voters are showing up with nothing to vote for, and all the meaningful decisions are happening in the primary. That’s why everyone needs a chance to participate.” The group hopes to place this measure on the ballot as a State Question in 2026, coinciding with the governor’s race.
With Independent voter registration in Oklahoma rising to 481,817—an increase of 32.4% since 2020—advocates argue that their participation could enhance the democratic process. While some parties have allowed independents to vote in their primaries, the Republican and Libertarian parties maintain closed primaries.
Support for open primaries crosses party lines, with both Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt and Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum expressing their backing for the change. Holt emphasized that open primaries could help bridge the partisan divide in the state, while Bynum pointed out the potential benefits of such a system during periods of Democratic dominance in the past.
The initiative aims to bolster civic engagement, with the belief that broader voter participation leads to increased turnout, a sentiment echoed by Gruber. “You let more voters vote, you get higher voter turnout. It’s basic math,” he remarked.
Source
Photo credit www.tahlequahdailypress.com
