In Oklahoma we are seeing growing signs of the breakdown of electoral participation. Is representative democracy broken in Oklahoma? What can we do to fix it? Momentum is building for change in Oklahoma’ election laws. Every election in recent years has seen fewer voters than elections before it. Fewer people are running for office. We are stuck with the two party duopoly we have had for decades. However, every year more and more people join the fight to open up Oklahoma’s elections. Our latest ally in this fight is the Oklahoma Policy Institute. Yesterday, OKPI published their latest issue brief, Repairing Oklahoma’s Broken Democracy. In this brief, OKPI discusses the various problems stemming from Oklahoma’s laws such as low voter turnout, low voter registration, low number of candidates and more. These reforms include: *Voter Information Pamphlets - In at least 16 states, state law require that election officials publish and distribute a voter information pamphlet. These pamphlets, which can include information on state questions, sample ballots, absentee ballot information, candidate information and more, help voters be more informed about the issues and candidates they are voting on. *Online Voter Registration - At least 13 states allow voters to complete a voter registration application entirely online. Online registration saves money, increases the accuracy of voter lists, is easier for voters, and reduces the chances of Election Day mix-ups. *Extended Mail-in Voting - Three states – Colorado, Oregon and Washington – now conduct all elections entirely by mail, while almost 20 others allow at least some all-mail elections. Mail-in elections are less expensive and administratively simpler to operate, and eliminate a host of problems associated with voters not being able to get to the polls or not knowing where to vote. Alternately, seven states currently allows voters to opt for “permanent absentee status,” which means that they will automatically be mailed an absentee ballot for each election. *Ballot Access Reform - Oklahoma has the nation’s most restrictive ballot access laws, which gives voter fewer choices and discourages participation among those who don’t identify with the two major parties. Lowering the threshold for political parties and independent Presidential candidates to get on the ballot, as well as reducing the signature threshold for initiative petitions, would give Oklahoma a fuller range of choices. *Open Primaries - In Oklahoma, all primary elections are restricted to registered party voters, which leaves the growing number of political independents with no voice in selecting which candidate will appear on the general election ballot. A majority of states operate some form of open primary system. *Instant Run-off Primaries - Oklahoma’s current primary run-off system consistently has been shown to depress voter turnout. An alternative is the instant run-off, or preferential ballot, where voters rank candidates in order of preference and the votes of losing candidates are transferred up to second- and third-choices until one candidate gains a majority. The instant run-off allows voters to more fully express their electoral preferences and encourages candidates to engage a broader range of voters. Together, these reforms, along with others that are discussed in the OKPI full election brief, have the potential to create a better informed and more highly engaged electorate and to reverse the state’s trends towards declining electoral participation Find out more at okpolicy.org/brokendemocracy. The full report is well worth the read and definitely something to share with your Representative and Senator in the Oklahoma Legislature. Unless Oklahoma can find a way to reinvigorate our democracy and get more citizens engaged in the political process, we will have little chance of solving the great substantive challenges we face.
Posted on: Wed, 17 Dec 2014 22:20:00 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015