Supporters of open primaries in Oklahoma announced Monday they have refiled their initiative petition as State Question 836 (SQ 836).

According to a news release, this step was taken as a precautionary measure to clarify any concerns regarding presidential electors in their original petition (SQ 835) and to strengthen the petition’s language.

“We are re-filing our initiative petition out of an abundance of caution,” said Robert McCampbell, an attorney for the petition effort. “While SQ 835 was clear and legally sound, we don’t want to allow opportunity for misinterpretation that could overshadow the real purpose of this initiative: ensuring every voter in Oklahoma has a voice in our elections.”

SQ 836 clarifies that its constitutional provisions do not impact the selection of presidential electors and ensures that the initiative solely addresses the process for partisan primary elections at the state, county, and federal (U.S. Senate and U.S. Representative) levels. Presidential elections are unaffected by the proposed open primary petition. Additionally, State Question 836 clarifies that candidates will appear on the ballot identified by party “registration” (SQ 835 used the term “affiliation”).

“These small adjustments to our proposal reinforce our mission and goals,” said State Question 836 petitioner Tony Stobbe. “We’re focused on creating a fair, inclusive election system in which every Oklahoman— regardless of party affiliation—can participate in primary elections. We’re moving full steam ahead with SQ 836.”

Oklahoma United Founder and CEO Margaret Kobos said the effort will now be stronger and poised to build even more momentum.

“Our message remains the same: Oklahoma’s elections should work for everyone,” said Kobos. “We’re confident in our mission because thousands of Oklahomans across the state have told us that this proposal for open primaries makes sense to them. It’s no surprise that our petition has attracted opposition from some party insiders who are threatened by greater voter participation. We are confident that we have the support of the people on our side and we will ultimately prevail, now under the banner of State Question 836.”

The campaign plans to launch a signature-gathering drive in 2025. For more information about visit VoteYes836.com