Oklahoma must change the timing of its non-presidential primaries, because of the 2009 federal law that requires states to mail overseas absentee ballots at least 45 days before any election. Oklahoma’s current law provides too little time between the primary (for office other than President) and the runoff primary. Two bills deal with the problem. HB 1615 moves the first primary to June, and moves the petition deadline for newly qualifying parties to March 1. SB 602 abolishes the runoff primary and puts the (non-presidential) primary in late August. Neither bill has made any headway in the last twelve days. The deadline for one of these bills to pass through the second house of the legislature is April 28. Probably the legislature will choose between these two approaches on Wednesday, April 27.

Meanwhile, on April 25, the legislature passed HB 1614, which moves the presidential primary from February to March. Thanks to Frontloading HQ for that news.