Elections in Oklahoma
Encyclopedia
Elections in the State of Oklahoma are established by the Oklahoma Constitution
in Section 1 of Article 3. They are governed by the Oklahoma State Election Board
.
may prescribe, all citizens of the United States, over the age of eighteen and who are residents of this state, may register to vote as a qualified elector of Oklahoma.
for all elected state, district and country officers is held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November every two years. Those offices whose term expires the year following the general election must face election in that general election. For the state wide elected executive offices (the Governor of Oklahoma
, Attorney General of Oklahoma
, etc.), they must face election in the general election held two years after the last election for President of the United States
. Thus, the most recent gubernatorial election
was held in 2006 as the most recent presidential election
was held in 2008,
Candidates for United States Senator
and United States Representative
are elected in the state general election occurring as their term expires.
must be held for a political party to nominate its candidates for the offices to the filled at the next general election. Such primaries are held on the last Tuesday in July of each year in which a general election is to be held. No candidate's name may be printed on the general election ballot unless such candidate has been nominated by his political party by a primary election. However, nonpartisan candidates need not seek primary election nominations in order to appear on the general election ballot.
If the death of the political party’s nominee should occur five days or more following the Runoff Primary Election date, a special general election shall be called by the Governor of Oklahoma
. For such special general election, the candidates for office are the substitute candidate named by the central committee, the nominee of other political parties nominated for office, and any previously filed independent candidates.
After such notice is filed, petitions seeking recognition of a political party, in a form to be prescribed by the Secretary of the State Election Board, must be filed with such Secretary. Such petitions must bear the signatures of registered voters equal to at least five percent of the total votes cast in the last general election. Petitions may be circulated a maximum of one year after notice is filed and must be filed with the Secretary no later than May 1 of an even-number year. Petitions may not be circulated between May 1 and November 15 of any even-numbered year.
Within thirty days after receiving a petition to form a political party, the State Election Board shall determine the sufficiency of such petitions. If the Board determines there are a sufficient number of valid signatures of registered voters, the party becomes recognized under the laws of the State of Oklahoma with all rights and obligations relating to political parties.
If a party's nominee for Governor, or nominees for electors for President and Vice President, fail to receive at least ten percent of the total votes cast for said offices in the most recent general election, that party's Oklahoma party recognition automatically ceases, and that party must once again go through the process of gaining recognition.
Oklahoma Constitution
The Constitution of the State of Oklahoma is the governing document of the U.S. State of Oklahoma. Adopted in 1907, Oklahoma ratified the United States Constitution on November 16, 1907, as the 46th US State. At its ratification, the Oklahoma Constitution was the longest governing document of any...
in Section 1 of Article 3. They are governed by the Oklahoma State Election Board
Oklahoma State Election Board
The Oklahoma State Election Board is the governing body regarding elections in the state of Oklahoma. The Board is responsible for maintaining uniformy in the application, operation and interpretation of State and Federal election laws...
.
Constitution provisions
Voter qualifications
Subject to such exceptions as the Oklahoma LegislatureOklahoma Legislature
The Legislature of the State of Oklahoma is the biennial meeting of the legislative branch of the government of Oklahoma. It is bicameral, comprising the Oklahoma House of Representatives and the Oklahoma Senate, with all members elected directly by the people. The House of Representatives has 101...
may prescribe, all citizens of the United States, over the age of eighteen and who are residents of this state, may register to vote as a qualified elector of Oklahoma.
General election
The general electionGeneral election
In a parliamentary political system, a general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are chosen. The term is usually used to refer to elections held for a nation's primary legislative body, as distinguished from by-elections and local elections.The term...
for all elected state, district and country officers is held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November every two years. Those offices whose term expires the year following the general election must face election in that general election. For the state wide elected executive offices (the Governor of Oklahoma
Governor of Oklahoma
The governor of the state of Oklahoma is the head of state for the state of Oklahoma, United States. Under the Oklahoma Constitution, the governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the Oklahoma executive branch, of the government of Oklahoma...
, Attorney General of Oklahoma
Attorney General of Oklahoma
The Attorney General of Oklahoma is the State Attorney General for the state of Oklahoma. The Attorney General serves as the chief legal and law enforcement officer of the State of Oklahoma. The Attorney General is responsible for providing legal advise to the various agencies and departments of...
, etc.), they must face election in the general election held two years after the last election for President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
. Thus, the most recent gubernatorial election
Oklahoma gubernatorial election, 2006
The Oklahoma gubernatorial election of 2006 was held on November 7, 2006, and was a race for the Governor of Oklahoma. The incumbent Governor, Democrat Brad Henry, was re-elected with more than 60 percent of the vote, beating Republican Ernest Istook, a member of the United States House of...
was held in 2006 as the most recent presidential election
United States presidential election, 2008
The United States presidential election of 2008 was the 56th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on November 4, 2008. Democrat Barack Obama, then the junior United States Senator from Illinois, defeated Republican John McCain, the senior U.S. Senator from Arizona. Obama received 365...
was held in 2008,
Candidates for United States Senator
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
and United States Representative
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
are elected in the state general election occurring as their term expires.
Primary election
A primary electionPrimary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
must be held for a political party to nominate its candidates for the offices to the filled at the next general election. Such primaries are held on the last Tuesday in July of each year in which a general election is to be held. No candidate's name may be printed on the general election ballot unless such candidate has been nominated by his political party by a primary election. However, nonpartisan candidates need not seek primary election nominations in order to appear on the general election ballot.
Runoff primary election
If at any primary election no candidate for the nomination for office of any political party receives a majority of all votes cast for all candidates of the party for the office, then the two candidates receiving the highest number of votes shall be placed on the official ballot as candidates for such nomination at a Runoff Primary Election to be held on the fourth Tuesday of August in the same year. The winner of the runoff primary shall be the political party’s nomination for the office to be filled.Closed primaries
Oklahoma operates a modified closed primary system, in which only members of a given political party may vote in that party’s primary and runoff primary elections. The system is "modified" in that the chairman of each political party may allow registered Independents to vote in that party's primary election, but is not required to do so. Moreover, should Independents be allowed to vote in a primary election, the Independent may not vote in more than one political party’s primary elections.Substitute candidates
In the event of the death of a political party's nominee for office prior to the date of the general election, a substitute candidate is permitted to have his name placed on the general election ballot. If the nominee was a candidate for a state office, the state central committee of the party affected must the Secretary of the State Election Board of the name of an alternative candidate to be placed on the general election ballot. Such notice must be submitted in writing within five days after the death has occurred and must be signed by at least two members of the political party's state central committee.If the death of the political party’s nominee should occur five days or more following the Runoff Primary Election date, a special general election shall be called by the Governor of Oklahoma
Governor of Oklahoma
The governor of the state of Oklahoma is the head of state for the state of Oklahoma, United States. Under the Oklahoma Constitution, the governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the Oklahoma executive branch, of the government of Oklahoma...
. For such special general election, the candidates for office are the substitute candidate named by the central committee, the nominee of other political parties nominated for office, and any previously filed independent candidates.
Party Recognition
Any group of people may form a recognized political party at any time except during the period between June 1 and November 15 of any even-numbered year. To form a party, the group must submit their intent in writing to the Secretary of the State Election Board.After such notice is filed, petitions seeking recognition of a political party, in a form to be prescribed by the Secretary of the State Election Board, must be filed with such Secretary. Such petitions must bear the signatures of registered voters equal to at least five percent of the total votes cast in the last general election. Petitions may be circulated a maximum of one year after notice is filed and must be filed with the Secretary no later than May 1 of an even-number year. Petitions may not be circulated between May 1 and November 15 of any even-numbered year.
Within thirty days after receiving a petition to form a political party, the State Election Board shall determine the sufficiency of such petitions. If the Board determines there are a sufficient number of valid signatures of registered voters, the party becomes recognized under the laws of the State of Oklahoma with all rights and obligations relating to political parties.
If a party's nominee for Governor, or nominees for electors for President and Vice President, fail to receive at least ten percent of the total votes cast for said offices in the most recent general election, that party's Oklahoma party recognition automatically ceases, and that party must once again go through the process of gaining recognition.
Current recognized parties
- Democratic PartyOklahoma Democratic PartyThe Oklahoma Democratic Party is an Oklahoma political party affiliated with the United States Democratic Party. Along with the Oklahoma Republican Party, it one of the two major parties in Oklahoma politics....
- Republican PartyOklahoma Republican PartyThe Oklahoma Republican Party is a political party affiliated with the United States Republican Party . Along with the Oklahoma Democratic Party, it is one of the two major parties in Oklahoma politics.-Voter base:...
Current active parties
- Green PartyGreen Party of Oklahoma- Key values :The Green Party of Oklahoma is a third party founded on the Four Pillars of the Green Party: ecological wisdom, social justice, grass-roots democracy and non-violence.- History :...
- America's Independent Party of Oklahoma
- Libertarian PartyOklahoma Libertarian PartyThe Oklahoma Libertarian Party is the branch of the Libertarian Party in Oklahoma. It has been active in state politics since the 1970s, but due to what critics characterize as Oklahoma's restrictive ballot access requirements the party has been an "official" party during only portions of the last...
- Constitution PartyOklahoma Constitution PartyThe Oklahoma Constitution Party is a member of the Oklahomans for Ballot Access Reform Coalition and is affiliated with the national Constitution Party.-External links:Party Website:...
- Pirate Party of Oklahoma
See also
- Elections in the United StatesElections in the United StatesThe United States has a federal government, with elected officials at the federal , state and local levels. On a national level, the head of state, the President, is elected indirectly by the people, through an Electoral College. In modern times, the electors virtually always vote with the popular...
- Politics of OklahomaPolitics of OklahomaPolitics of Oklahoma takes place in a framework of a presidential republic modeled after the United States, whereby the Governor of Oklahoma is both head of state and head of government, and of a pluriform two-party system. Executive power is exercised by the Governor and the government...
- Political party strength in OklahomaPolitical party strength in OklahomaThe following table indicates the party of elected officials in the U.S. state of Oklahoma:*Governor*Lieutenant Governor*Attorney General*State Auditor and Inspector*State Treasurer*Superintendent of Public Instruction*Commissioner of Labor...