Panelists discuss plan to open state primaries to all voters

November 8, 2025

By Kevin Hassler, Enid News & Eagle

A small audience heard proponents and opponents of State Question 836 discuss the proposal that would change Oklahoma’s primary election system during a forum Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, at Northwestern Oklahoma State University-Enid.

Currently, fans of SQ 836 are circulating signature petitions to get the measure on the ballot for Oklahomans to decide. They have to collect nearly 173,000 signatures by Jan. 28, 2026.

The plan would seek to open primary elections to all voters. Voters would choose one candidate for each office, and the top two voter-getters — regardless of political party — would advance to the general election. Presidential primary elections would be unaffected.

Oklahoma primaries currently are closed, but the Republican, Democrat and Libertarian parties can choose to open them to 466,000 registered independent voters in the state. Only Democrats currently do.

Friday’s panel discussion was held as part of the Oklahoma Political Science Association’s annual meeting. Aaron Mason, Northwestern professor of political science, was the chair of

the panel. Also participating were Pat McFerron, of Oklahoma United, which supports the question, and Ryan Haynie, of the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs, which is against the question.

Much of the announced opposition comes from Republicans.

Pro-SQ 836

McFerron said he is a Republican and has been involved in political campaigns since 1984 at 16 years old.

“I realized this is a topic we’re talking about that there are some Republicans that are not in

favor of,” McFerron said. “But I was first approached to get involved in this 12 years ago, and I didn’t think it was the right time. And I can say at that time, Oklahoma was still a very competitive general electorate state, or is moving toward becoming not a competitive state, which is the state we’re in now.

“And I believe that this is the time to move forward.”

He said he prefers the term “unified primary” instead of open. Under the open primary plan, all candidates are on one ballot.

“We are for most intents and purposes, a closed primary state,” McFerron said. “That means that the party you register in is the party’s elections you are able to vote in.

“Speaking of our current system, I find it fascinating that people want to talk about California and Washington. We don’t get to talk about the Nebraska Legislature or

Louisiana, or some other places that have things similar to this, but elections are about

the people that live there, not necessarily about the system.

“So this idea that, ‘Oh my gosh, we’re going to turn you into California,’ because we change your system is just ludicrous.”

Under the current system in Oklahoma, he said, most elections in the state are decided at

the primary level, so independents and members of the other party don’t get a say in the

election.

He pointed out the 2022 general election in Oklahoma, including legislative, statewide,

federal and district attorney races.

“Out of that 168, only seven ... were decided November,” McFerron said. “It was six legislative seats and one district attorney. First, 118 were fully decided before even November. So 118 out of 168 elections, somebody didn’t get to vote in those elections.”

He singled out the 2022 election for state treasurer, who represents the roughly 4 million

Oklahoma residents.

“Represent 4 million people, 150,000 votes, less than 4% elect the state treasurer,” McFerron said. “And so as a conservative, I actually think this is detrimental to conservatives’

long term.”

Read more at EnidNews.com.