1 week Ago
I’ve spent most of my professional life — first as a teacher and later as a volunteer for Tulsa Library’s Literacy Service — helping children and adults learn to read. Literacy is more than just a skill; it’s the foundation for personal growth, career success and strong communities. But true literacy goes beyond reading and writing — it’s about understanding the world, making informed decisions and actively participating in society.
Civic literacy is no different. A healthy democracy relies on engaged and informed voters, yet our current election system discourages participation, limits whose voices are heard, and ultimately fosters civic illiteracy by shutting people out of the process. The consequences are showing — Oklahoma was dead last in the nation for voter turnout in November 2020 and 2024.
If voter turnout is a measure of civic literacy, we are in crisis. People are also reading..
. Bill addressing tribal toll collections falls in House committee; governor reacts State ends contracts for three large mental health services providers in Tulsa County Ex-police officer changes part of story about chase that killed motorcyclist in Tulsa Mason’s Monday Mailbag: What grade did I give OU football’s offseason so far? Berry Tramel: Why Jimmy Gasso is coaching softball at Mid-America Christian Update: Motorcyclist in critical condition after crash with school bus, Tulsa police say Cry Baby Hill roadside attraction on hold, along with hotel project, Route 66 experience Here's how the sold-out Red Dirt concert event The Boys From Oklahoma became a reality Berry Tramel: Mike Gundy predicts soon-coming super conference of 32 teams Nine measles cases now confirmed in Oklahoma Police probe alleged child sex abuse, coverup at ‘cult’ church following news investigation 5 reasons to believe OU football’s offensive line will be much improved in 2025 Bill Haisten: Remembering the immense talent and personality of Mike Bilbow Epic concert series in Stillwater launches with Cross Canadian Ragweed reunion Opponents of religious charter school: St. Isidore poses threat to all public charters That’s why I support SQ 836, a proposal to open our primaries and ensure all voters, regardless of political affiliation, have a say in choosing their leaders.
Right now, Oklahoma’s elections are largely decided in closed partisan primaries, where only a small, highly motivated group of voters determines who appears on the general election ballot. This system excludes too many Oklahomans from the process, discouraging voter engagement and civic education. In 2024, only six of the 77 county sheriff posts were contested by members of both major parties.
That means that in 71 counties, significant percentages of voters did not have a say in who their sheriff would be. This is especially troubling since publicly available polling repeatedly showed that public safety was a top priority for voters. Yet in a year when voters identified safety as a central concern, most had no meaningful way to engage with the election for their county’s chief public safety officer.
They had little incentive to learn about the candidates — or even to participate in the election at all. When people are denied meaningful participation in elections, they disengage from the political process altogether, leading to lower levels of civic literacy and a citizenry less prepared to hold leaders accountable. Instead of promoting broad representation, closed primaries limit political competition and prioritize party loyalty over the public good.
The result? A government that is often disconnected from the everyday concerns of its citizens, focusing more on partisan battles than on solving real problems. SQ 836 fixes this by creating a system of open primaries in which all voters can participate. Instead of separate Republican and Democratic primaries, all candidates regardless of party — would appear on a single ballot, and all voters would have the right to participate.
The top two vote-getters, regardless of party, would then move on to the general election. This system ensures that elected officials are accountable to a broader electorate, making elections more competitive, fair, and representative of the people. Open primaries, like libraries, are pillars of an informed and engaged society.
They encourage voter participation, reward candidates who appeal to a diverse range of citizens, and reduce the influence of extreme partisan factions. By including all voters in the primary process, open primaries help build civic literacy rather than suppress it. Just as I have worked to promote literacy in reading and writing, I believe we must also foster civic literacy — a culture where more people are informed, engaged and empowered to make their voices heard.
SQ 836 isn’t about helping one party over another — it’s about ensuring that Oklahoma’s elections are fair, inclusive and representative of all its people. It gives every voter a say and ensures that our leaders focus on governing, not just playing to the extremes. By removing barriers to participation, SQ 836 promotes a more informed, engaged electorate — a necessary step toward solving real issues in our state.
Let’s empower Oklahoma’s voters by making sure everyone can participate in the elections that shape our future. I encourage all my fellow Oklahomans to learn more about SQ 836 and support this important reform. Our democracy — and our civic literacy — depend on it.
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