Open primaries: Signature gathering now in home stretch

18 January 2026

Tahlequah Press

Guest Editorial by Margot Purdy, Sue Catron, Beth Purdy Cohenour, Pamela Moore, Susan Mildren, Phyllis Spears and Mickey Uppendahl

We are your local team collecting signatures for the State Question 836. The petition process is now in its last weeks before the submission deadline. We hope to offer voters of all stripes the opportunity to get their signatures on the petition.

S.Q. 836, known as the “Open and Unified Primaries” initiative, is a nonpartisan state question only. Signing the petition now may offer voters the opportunity to vote on the

question in the fall of 2026. The question, if passed, would enable all voters to fully participate in future primary elections, without regard for party registration.

Passage of S.Q. 836 could help to make your vote count.Oklahoma ranks last in the nation for voter turnout and the key reason stated by voters is that they think their votes won’t

count. While registered, active voters are keenly aware that their party registration restricts their choice at the primary level. Potential voters – those who have not yet registered – also feel their vote does not count, so why bother?

Under the current system, independents cannot vote in Oklahoma primaries now, while Republicans and Democrats cannot cross party lines to vote for their preferred candidates.

S.Q. 836, if passed by a vote of the people, offers a more inclusive solution while retaining the two-party system. This question, if passed, would serve those voters who want to vote for the person rather than the party without having to change their registration.

There’s an old saying: “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over while expecting a different result.” If you are frustrated with how things are going now, why then continue to do things the “way we always have”?

S.Q. 836 offers a way to improve our state by increasing the number of voices and choices when selecting our leaders and defining our policies. Additionally, it is projected that open primaries would attract unregistered voters to register and vote.

Please take the time now to sign the petition to get S.Q. 836 on the ballot, and if you decide differently later, you can still vote your voice and your choice. We have volunteers at the Tahlequah Public Library twice a week — Tuesdays, 4-6 p.m., and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to noon, until Jan. 20. Or you can contact any local team member, and we will connect

with you to get you on the petition. Please hurry; time is running out.