Oklahoma Democrats will decide tomorrow whether to let independents vote in primary elections.
Proponents hope the change will improve voter participation. Registered Republican voters barely outnumber registered Democrats in Oklahoma. Democrats think opening their primary election to the more than 260,000 independent voters — nearly 13 percent of registered voters — may improve their electoral success.
"This means that we’re going to be talking to them much earlier in the process and making sure that their thoughts and their views are incorporated into the approach that candidates think is best for their particular community," said Democratic Party Chair Mark Hammons.
There are no current plans to open the Republican primary to independents.
"I think that just waters down the conservative message and the principles of the Republican Party if we had open primaries, so I think most of us are not for that," said Chair Rand Brogdon.
Democrats will vote on the proposal tomorrow during a meeting at Oklahoma City Community College.