According to this Facebook message, Oklahomans upset by the lack of choices on Oklahoma’s presidential ballot will hold a rally at the Oklahoma State Capitol on Monday, October 8, to publicize the problem. The Libertarian Party nominee for Congress from the 4th district, R. J. Harris, and the Democratic nominee for Congress from that same district, Donna Bebo, are among the speakers.

This is the third presidential election in a row in which Oklahoma voters are not permitted to vote for anyone for President other than the Democratic and Republican nominees. In order to find an example of any other state that tied the hands of voters this way for three elections in a row, one must go all the way back to the period 1956-1964. Oklahoma’s historical record for presidential choice on ballots is now almost as bad as Ohio’s record for the period 1952-1964. The U.S. Supreme Court in 1968 struck down Ohio’s ballot access laws precisely because Ohio had similar restrictions for four presidential elections in a row. Unfortunately, it appears most Oklahoma voters are unaware of their state’s deviation from the national norm.

Oklahoma is one of only five states that bans all write-ins. The others are Hawaii, South Dakota, Nevada, and Louisiana. Thanks to Bill Van Allen for the link.