OKLAHOMA CITY – The deadline for registered voters to change their party affiliation for the upcoming statewide primary and runoff primary elections is March 31, State Election Board Secretary Paul Ziriax announced.
By statute, changing party affiliation is not allowed from April 1 through Aug. 31. All requests to change party affiliation submitted after March 31 will be processed Sept. 1, he said.
Voters can change their party affiliation online using the OK Voter Portal at elec- tions.ok.gov or by completing a new Oklahoma Voter Registration Application and mailing it to their county election board. Applications can be downloaded at elections.ok.gov. Applications also are available at county election boards, most tag agencies, post offices, and libraries.
The statewide primary election is set for June 30, and the runoff primary is scheduled for Aug. 25. Nov. 3 is the date for the statewide general election.
Oklahoma has a modified closed primary system. In order to vote in a party’s primary or runoff primary, you must be a registered voter of that party. However, the law allows parties to open their primaries and runoff primaries to Independents every two years, by notifying the Secretary of the State Election Board.
The Democratic Party allows Independent voters to participate in its primaries and runoff primaries in 2020 and 2021. Republican and Libertarian primaries and runoff primaries will remain closed.
For questions, contact your county election board or the State Election Board at 405-521-2391 or info@ elections.ok.gov.