Voting Issues

In a tense election year, leaders from Oklahoma’s Native nations want more of their citizens to head to the polls in November.

Critics say effort is fear mongering

An extended signature collection window, verification deadline and ban on foreign contributions in initiative campaigns would benefit Oklahomans, one lawmaker says.

Advocates for ranked-choice voting say the system makes elections less negative and more issue-based. But questions linger over the logistics of adopting the system in Oklahoma’s municipal and statewide elections.

With Election Day arriving one week from today, we look at two very close contests happening here in the Sooner State.

Question: How do closed primaries weaken our democracy? Answer: They produce elected officials who are more accountable to their party than their constituents, they restrict participation while also reinforcing division, and they exclude independent voters (who are the largest, fastest-growing sector of the US electorate).

Oklahoma’s Hispanic population increased by 42% since the 2020 census, making it the state’s fastest-growing demographic. Yet 21,000 Spanish-speaking Oklahoma citizens will be required to cast ballots in a language they don’t fully understand next month.

Per unmuteok.org: "94% of Oklahoma elections are decided in the primary, not the general election. But Oklahoma has closed primaries. It's a bad system that shuts out 1 out of 5 voters who are Independent and limits the choices of Republicans and Democrats. We pay millions of dollars for these elections with our taxes. Oklahomans deserve an open system that lets all voters vote for who they want."

A Republican Oklahoma lawmaker who wanted to refer to himself as “The Patriot” on the ballot can't use that nickname.

"Waldman's important and engaging account demonstrates that over the long term, the power of the democratic ideal prevails -- as long as the people so demand." -- The Washington Post