Every Citizen Matters: why we’re standing together for SQ 836

28 August 2025

By former Chickasha Mayor Hank Ross and former State Representative Joe Dorman

Published in the Rush Springs Gazette

We don’t agree on much. One of us is a former Democratic legislator. The other is a Republican and former mayor. We come from different political traditions and have spent plenty of time on opposite sides of issues.

But on something as fundamental as democracy, we find common ground.

At the heart of our nation’s founding is the belief that every citizen matters equally—that every voice should be heard and every vote should count the same. The Declaration of Independence insists that governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed. Oklahoma’s own constitution echoes this, declaring that all political power is inherent in the people. And from our state’s populist roots, we’ve always prided ourselves on a political culture that puts ordinary people—not political insiders—at the center of decision-making.

That’s why we are proud to stand together in support of State Question 836. This measure would ensure that every Oklahoman, regardless of party affiliation, has the right to participate in our most important elections. It would end the system that currently locks out hundreds of thousands of voters simply because they are not registered with a major political party. Instead, every candidate would appear on the same ballot, and the top

two vote-getters would advance to the general election.

This is not about partisanship. It’s about fairness, accountability, and restoring faith in our democracy. Neither of us believes that closing the doors to our neighbors, our friends, and our fellow Oklahomans makes our state stronger. Quite the opposite: we know that the best ideas emerge when more people are part of the conversation, not fewer.

We both believe in the greatness of this country and in the promise of Oklahoma. That promise is built on the idea that government belongs to all of us. It’s time our election system reflected that.

That’s why we’re coming together—not as a Democrat and a Republican, but as two Oklahomans who want to see our state live up to its highest ideals. We’re inviting our friends, neighbors, and fellow citizens to join us in that conversation. On Tuesday, September 9, we will co-host a town hall at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma in Chickasha. The evening will begin with a social hour at 6:00 p.m., followed by a presentation and Q&A at 6:30 in the Campus Ballroom of the USAO Student Center. The event is free, open to the public, and we hope you’ll be there to add your voice.

Read more about the event here.