Shawn Griffiths
Photo by Kateryna Hliznitsova on Unsplash
The nonpartisan group Oklahoma United announced Tuesday it has filed a citizen-led constitutional amendment to end closed primaries in the state and implement a nonpartisan primary system open to all voters and candidates.
“We are glad this day is finally here,” said former Republican state Sen. A.J. Griffin. “We are all here today to support improving our democracy by reforming our closed, exclusionary system of primary elections.”
The statement was made during a press conference announcing Question 835.
Unite Oklahoma has worked on building support for open primaries for some time. In 2023, IVN interviewed Margaret Kobos, the CEO and founder of the organization. She said it would be "a big thing to get some form of open primaries in Oklahoma."
Under Oklahoma law, only voters registered Republican or Democrat can participate in taxpayer-funded primaries. Republicans vote on a Republican ballot. Democrats vote on a Democratic ballot. And most of these elections end up deciding the overall winner.
Griffin noted that 86% of Oklahoma elections either had no general election at all in November or were inconsequential. Meanwhile, approximately 20% of the electorate that chooses to register unaffiliated of any political party has no say.
What's more, Oklahoma ranks dead last in eligible voter turnout, according to Kobos. Question 835 was designed to give all voters, regardless of party, a voice in the most critical stage of the elections process.
The reform has notable support behind it. Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt, for example, believes the type of nonpartisan elections that elect mayors that unify people in his city and Tulsa can be replicated throughout the state.
Question 835 was filed with the Oklahoma secretary of state's office. Oklahoma United will need to collect 172,993 signatures to get it on a future ballot, which organizers hope will be the 2026 November ballot.