Law & Principles

Would a California-style, top-two primary boost turnout?

November 20, 2024

Trent England

Those pushing for a California-style jungle primary in Oklahoma have latched on to our low voter turnout in the general election, claiming their scheme is a solution. The trouble is, it’s an easy claim to test.

Yes, Oklahoma is a state with low voter turnout—but so is California. According to data from the United States Election Project, California had lower voter turnout than Oklahoma in the general elections in 2012 and 2016. That’s notable since the state adopted its top-two primary in 2010. The only other state using a top-two primary is Washington, where it was adopted in 2004. That state has had higher voter participation both before and after changing its election process.

So the claim about general election turnout is false, but what about turnout in primaries?

Washington and California do better in these elections, but so do some states with closed primaries. This includes Wyoming, which in 2022 had higher turnout than both Washington and California. Oregon and Pennsylvania also have closed primaries and did better that year than California. (The most recent comprehensive data available are from the 2022 cycle.)

All eligible voters in Oklahoma have the right to vote in the primary elections based on which party they associate with and where they live. If a voter moves out of state, he or she loses the right to vote here. And if a voter declines to associate with a party, he or she has no right to choose that party’s nominees. This is how it has worked in Oklahoma, and many other states, since the beginning.

The last thing Oklahoma needs is an infusion of California politics. And as it turns out, this primary scheme isn’t the only California election practice being pushed here. David Blatt, former executive director of the far-left Oklahoma Policy Institute, has proposed same-day voter registration, more voting by mail, and voting by felons on probation. We trust that Oklahomans will reject these silly policies, too.