State Democrats Consider Allowing Independents In Open Primaries
Tulsa County Democrats warm to opening primaries to independents
By RANDY KREHBIEL World Staff Writer
Oklahoma Democrats seem to be moving closer to allowing independents to vote in the party’s primary elections.
A large majority of about 40 Tulsa County Democrats meeting at lunch Friday favored the idea, with the sense that the move is picking up momentum statewide.
Most of those at the meeting said they are delegates to a state party convention July 25 in Oklahoma City, where the proposal will be voted on.
“I don’t think it’s going to hurt anything to let independents vote,” Tulsa County Chairman Jo Glenn said at the end of the meeting. “Yes, some of them could be mischievous, but most of them, I think, are just looking for a place to light. … If we give them the opportunity to vote in our primaries, we might wind up with more long-term registered Democratic voters.”