https://tulsaworld.com/article_1f36135c-58d3-11ef-905b-832dde3492da.html Aug 15, 2024 Updated Aug 16, 2024
Efforts to end Oklahoma’s exclusionary primary elections are underway, and voters ought to get behind the effort. It would allow all voters regardless of party affiliation a say in their representatives. It would improve choices on the ballot and inspire better voter participation.
Oklahoma taxpayers pay for the current primary elections, which is unfair to the tens of thousands of voters who are unable to cast a ballot because they are of a different party or unaffiliated. It’s generated an overall apathy and candidates catering to an extreme end of party politics.
The state ranks last in the nation in voter participation. More than 70% of legislative seats in the last three election cycles have been decided in primaries or were uncontested. The restrictive primary system is partly to blame.
Other states found better primary systems generating more candidates to offer diverse viewpoints to the governance. State party leaders and some in elected office to balk; they fear a loss of power. Because of this, change will likely only happen through a grassroots, citizen-led effort.
Oklahoma United announced it plans to seek a citizen petition to amend the state constitution for unified ballot with partisan labels, as reported by Corey Jones of the Lee Enterprises Public Service Journalism Team. Its goal is to have a ballot question in place for the November 2026 election.
The proposed unified ballot works similar to municipal and school board elections with some key differences. One would be candidates listing their party affiliation, so elections remain partisan. Another would be the top two candidates going to a general election, regardless of the number of ballots separating the two.
So, the general election could be two people of the same party or of differing parties. If only two candidates file to run, then they would go directly to the November general election because the primary would be unnecessary. This would affect U.S. congressional, statewide legislative, statewide executive, county offices and district attorney races.
Nothing stops a political party from putting forth a candidate. If the party is strong, then that endorsement would hold influence. But, taxpayers won’t be paying for their choice, and other candidates from the party would be allowed on the ballot.
Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum is among several leaders in the state supporting the idea. As a city councilor and mayor, he ran on an open ballot.
“I say this as a Republican who is not afraid of competing with Democrats and independents in the competition of ideas — nor should any Republicans in Oklahoma. If we have confidence in what we believe in and the message that we deliver and the positions that we have, then we should not be afraid of competition. We should welcome it.
“And so, again, I think competition in the marketplace of ideas, just like in any other field, only serves to improve the eventual outcome for the customer.”
Oklahomans embrace their freedoms, and that’s what this is about: freedom to seek office and freedom to vote, regardless of fealty to political party bosses.
Comments