The Oklahoma Democratic Party is working with the State Election Board to ensure independent voter access to its primary ballot after the board "blindsided" the party and said all primary elections would be closed in 2026 and 2027.

A Democratic Party spokesperson said party officials voted in June to continue with open primaries and notified the Election Board of that decision in early August. According to a press release from the Democrats, the party did not receive further communication on the matter between then and Wednesday's announcement from the Election Board.

Republican voters in House District 35 cast ballots in a special primary election Tuesday, but they'll have to do it again in January.

Independent voters in Oklahoma will not be able to participate in primary elections for the 2026-2027 election cycles, the Oklahoma State Election Board announced Wednesday.

The State Election Board Secretary announced on Wednesday that all primaries will remain closed for the 2026-2027 election years.

The Oklahoma Election Board's recent announcement that none of the political parties will have open primaries has the state's Democratic Party challenging the decision.

No candidate secured a majority in the GOP primary for Oklahoma House District 35, sending Dillon Travis and Mike Waters to a Jan. 13 runoff.

Oklahoma's recognized political parties are keeping their primaries closed, according to State Election Board Secretary Paul Ziriax, because no political party

The State Election Board announced Independents in Oklahoma will not be able to vote in the 2026-2027 primaries and runoff primaries.

Oklahoma is a modified closed primary state, which means to vote in a party's primary, or runoff, you must be registered to vote in that party.  However, in every odd-numbered year from November 1-30,

Oklahomans in House District 35 will have the chance to vote on a new representative Tuesday. The seat covers cities in Creek, Noble, Osage, Pawnee and Payne counties. Former Rep. Ty Burns, R-Pawnee, resigned after pleading guilty to domestic abuse and assault.