OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) - Supporters of having open primaries in Oklahoma had filed for a petition to place State Question 835 on the ballot; that group has now refiled the issue, and it is now State Question 836.
Officials with the group supporting the initiative say they took this action to clarify concerns and strengthen the petition language, leaving no room for misinterpretation.
Vote Yes 836 leaders say the petition explicitly clarifies that its constitutional provisions do not impact the selection of presidential electors and ensures that the initiative solely addresses the process for partisan primary elections at the state, county, and federal (U.S. Senate and U.S. Representative) levels. Presidential elections are unaffected by the proposed open primary petition. Additionally, State Question 836 clarifies that candidates will appear on the ballot identified by party “registration” (SQ 835 used the term “affiliation”).
This clarification seeks to double down on delivering meaningful reform Oklahomans have said they want while preserving the current procedure for the presidential election process.
“We are re-filing our initiative petition out of an abundance of caution,” said Robert McCampbell, an attorney for the petition effort. “While SQ 835 was clear and legally sound, we don’t want to allow opportunity for misinterpretation that could overshadow the real purpose of this initiative: ensuring every voter in Oklahoma has a voice in our elections.”
With the announcement, the campaign is shifting its energy, resources, and volunteer efforts to SQ 836, saying:
“These small adjustments to our proposal reinforce our mission and goals,” said State Question 836 petitioner Tony Stobbe. “We’re focused on creating a fair, inclusive election system in which every Oklahoman—regardless of party affiliation—can participate in primary elections. We’re moving full steam ahead with SQ 836.”
Vote Yes 835, the organization supporting the initiative petition process, will be renamed Vote Yes 836 and will plan on withdrawing SQ 835.
Oklahoma United Founder and CEO Margaret Kobos, who has worked for years with other nonpartisan groups to champion open primaries, said the effort will now be stronger and poised to build even more momentum.
“Our message remains the same: Oklahoma’s elections should work for everyone,” said Kobos. “We’re confident in our mission because thousands of Oklahomans across the state have told us that this proposal for open primaries makes sense to them. It’s no surprise that our petition has attracted opposition from some party insiders who are threatened by greater voter participation. We are confident that we have the support of the people on our side and we will ultimately prevail, now under the banner of State Question 836.”
The campaign plans for 2025 are set to launch a signature-gathering drive while continuing to engage with voters statewide to build support for the initiative.
For more information about State Question 836, visit VoteYes836.com.
Download the full petition here.
