In the Oklahoma House of Representatives, the bill to improve ballot access for new and minor parties is HB1359, by Rep. Marian Cooksey. Her bill is identical to the bill in the State Senate, SB 28, by Senator Randy Brogdon.

If there has ever been a situation when it should be easy to lobby for a ballot access bill, it ought to be Oklahoma right now. In November 2004, Oklahoma voters who wanted to vote for someone for president other than President Bush and Senator John Kerry were not permitted to vote at all. No one else was on the ballot in Oklahoma, and no write-ins are permitted in Oklahoma. The November 2004 election in Oklahoma was not free. The right to vote includes the right of choice for whom to vote. If the legislature won’t grant relief, and if the State Courts don’t grant relief, this situation will recur in Oklahoma. The Oklahoma Constitution mandates that elections be “free”.