I registered as a Republican at the age of 18. Since then, I have watched the political trajectory of Oklahoma ebb and flow. I admit to being initially skeptical about State Question 836. The concept of “open primaries” felt foreign to me. Shouldn’t Republicans and Democrats vet their own candidates, preserving the sanctity of their respective parties? Yet, as I delved deeper into the nuances of Oklahoma’s political landscape, I began to see the merits of this bold initiative.
Oklahoma has long been plagued by dismal voter turnout, and primary elections are where this has the most detrimental effect, with many primaries decided by a mere few thousand votes. The closed primary system allows extreme factions within both major parties to have an outsized influence on who gets to be on the ballot in November. In this environment, extremist candidates––like former Oklahoma Superintendent Ryan Walters––can rise to prominence, running campaigns that don’t align with Oklahoma’s true values.
As Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt has said, “Our system is only as healthy as the diversity of candidates it offers.” This diversity is increasingly difficult to attain when closed primaries often become echo chambers for extreme ideologies, thereby disenfranchising the majority of voters in favor of extremist candidates promoted by OCPA’s henchmen and the increasingly questionable leadership of the state GOP.
Oklahoma consistently ranks in the top ten states for lowest voter turnout, largely due to registered independent voters not being allowed to vote in Oklahoma primaries. AJ Griffin, a former Republican state senator and leading advocate for SQ 836 points out, “Open primaries allow Oklahoma voters, regardless of party affiliation, to participate fully in the democratic process.”
It’s no wonder OCPA and the state GOP leadership are opposed to SQ 836. They know the deck is currently stacked in their favor, allowing them to cling to power in a state desperate for better leadership.
If Oklahomans are satisfied with being ranked 50th in education, nearly last in healthcare, and at the bottom of so many other piles, we should just keep running our elections the same way. We have little to show for our legislative efforts in the last several years. How we choose our leaders might be part of the problem.
Oklahomans should decide on State Question 836, and it should be in a November election, when at least a larger percentage of Oklahoman voices can all be heard.
I encourage everyone to sign the petition to put SQ 836 on the ballot, so our state can come together and decide what’s right for Oklahoma’s future. Let’s put this to a vote.
Drew Williamson
Signature Gathering Deadline is Sunday, January 25th.
Learn more about SQ 836
