Oklahoma ranks dead last — 50th — in voter turnout. That’s not a coincidence. It’s the result of a system designed to make most voters irrelevant. How can anyone who believes in the Oklahoma Standard not be outraged by that? Our state was built on populist roots — a belief that the people’s voice should outweigh the grip of entrenched elites.
State Question 836 is a chance to re-establish our populist origins — to make every election matter, to make every voter count and to remind our leaders that they answer to the people, not the party bosses.
And yet, listen to the noise coming from the politicians trying to kill this petition. Their outrage proves the point. The party elites don’t want to lose control. They often thrive on division and protect a system that rewards partisanship over public service. Closed primaries keep power in the hands of the few, decided in low-turnout summer elections where only the most extreme voices are heard. By the time November comes, most races are already over — and hundreds of thousands of Oklahomans, especially independents, are left without a voice.
That’s not democracy. That’s gatekeeping.
Republican lawmakers who say opening primaries would “violate their right of association” seem to really be saying it would violate their control. They’ve built a political machine designed to protect incumbents, discourage competition and punish moderation. An open primary threatens to blow that system wide open — because it forces candidates to face all voters, not just the ones who pass their purity tests.
Most Republicans believe deeply in the value of individual participation, robust civic engagement and holding elected officials accountable to all voters—not just the narrow base that shows up in primaries today. That base has unfortunately become more stringently right-wing and divisive, focused on culture war issues rather than solving problems that most people in Oklahoma need addressed.
SQ 836 offers an opportunity to expand participation by letting all registered voters, regardless of party, cast a vote in the primary. Currently, large numbers of Oklahomans—especially independents—are shut out of the primary process, even though their tax dollars support elections. By embracing this reform, Republicans can make a principled case that democracy works better when more voices matter—and that their party stands for participation, not exclusion.
From a strategic standpoint, open primaries could actually strengthen the Republican brand in Oklahoma. They encourage the kind of candidates who can win — not just the primary, but the general election, too. Under State Question 836’s top-two system, candidates have to appeal to a broader range of voters, including independents and moderates. That’s not a threat to the GOP — it’s a path to long-term success. For Republicans who care about building lasting, statewide dominance rather than clinging to narrow factional wins, this is simply smart politics.
Across the country, open or nonpartisan primaries have helped elect candidates who reflect their state’s true values and priorities — not the loudest voices on the fringes. In places like Alaska and Washington, Republicans still win competitive statewide races under open systems, but those candidates usually have broader appeal and stronger general election support. The notion that allowing more people to vote somehow weakens the party completely contradicts a core Republican belief: that government should answer to the people, not to political insiders or a small group of partisan voters who control low-turnout primaries.
Republicans, don’t listen to the fear tactics of the party elite. Sign the petition for State Question 836 because it strengthens—not weakens—the party by encouraging candidates who can win broad support and lead effectively. It’s a chance to put voters back in charge, restore accountability and ensure that conservative voices that best represent Oklahoma values are chosen by the people, not by party insiders.
Cindy Allen 