Letter to the Editor
Dear Editor: Many registered voters here in Oklahoma don’t understand, or are misinformed about this petition to get 836 on the ballot for all Oklahomans to vote for or against. Our current closed primary system is hurting Oklahoma.
Taxation without representation: Over 480,000 Oklahomans are registered as independents — and most can’t vote in our primary elections despite the fact they pay for these elections with their tax dollars!
Meaningless Elections: In 2024 86% of Oklahoma’s federal, state and county offices either had no general election or a general election that was rendered virtually meaningless because there were not two major party candidates on the ballot.
Very low voter turnout: Oklahoma ranked last in voter turnout nationwide in 2020 and 2024.
State Question 836 fixes this by creating a top-two open primary system: • All candidates on one ballot, listed with their party registration, incentivized to appeal to all voters.
• All voters can participate in every election.
• Top two vote-getters in a primary move on to a November general election regardless of party (just like our municipal elections).
Find more information at https://www.voteyes836.com where you can read the wording of this petition. The deadline for signing the petition is January 26, 2026.
Sherrie McNall Newcastle
