Oklahoma primaries: Everything you need to know for the 2024 presidential election

Alexia Aston, The Oklahoman
Updated ·3 min read

As the nation’s attention is on former U.S. President Donald Trump’s performance in the primaries, you may be wondering: when are the primary elections in Oklahoma? And, who’s on the ballot?

Here’s what to know about voting in Oklahoma's primaries for the 2024 election cycle.

Oklahoma primary elections

Primary elections are what political parties use to choose candidates to appear on the ballot for the general election, which is on Nov. 5.

On vote days, polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and early voting days are often set for the Thursday, Friday and Saturday prior to Election Day.

  • March 5, 2024: Presidential preference primary

  • June 18, 2024: State Supreme Court, primary for federal offices: U.S. House, primary for county offices, primary for state offices: State Senate and State House

  • Aug. 27, 2024: Primary runoff for federal, county and state offices

  • Nov. 5, 2024: General election

Oklahoma voter registration guide: How to check voter registration status, options to vote, what to know

Who can vote in Oklahoma's primary elections?

Oklahoma's primary elections are closed, which means only voters registered with a party can vote in that party's primary. The Oklahoma Democratic Party will allow independents to vote in its primaries and runoff primaries during the 2024-2025 election years.

Voters can change their party affiliation before April 1, 2024, then state law prohibits party affiliation changes April 1 through Aug. 31. Party affiliation changes submitted during the closed period will be processed on Sept. 1, 2024. Changes can be made online through the OK Voter Portal.

Weigh in: With independent voters growing in Oklahoma, should primary elections include all voters?

What is a presidential preference primary?

The presidential preference primary is part of how political parties select presidential candidates.

In this type of primary, voters registered with Oklahoma's major political parties vote for the presidential candidate they want to represent their party in the November general election.

After the election, political party delegates nominate the preferred presidential candidates at each party’s national convention. The Republican Party will select its presidential nominee at the 2024 Republican National Convention on July 15-18 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and the Democratic Party will do the same at their convention Aug. 19-22, in Chicago.

At the convention, each party decides which presidential candidate will represent their party on the November general election ballot.

When is Oklahoma's voter registration deadline for the primaries?

The deadline to register to vote in the primary elections is Feb. 9. The deadline to request an absentee ballot is Feb. 19.

Oklahomans can register to vote online, by mail or in person. Register online using the OK Voter Portal's Online Voter Registration System. (An Oklahoma driver's license/state ID and a signature on file with Service Oklahoma is required.)

More: Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt travels to Iowa to campaign for fellow Gov. Ron DeSantis

How do I check my voter registration status?

Are you currently registered to vote?

Here is where to check.

More information on updating your existing voter registration is available on the Oklahoma State Election Board website.

Who is on the primary presidential ballot in Oklahoma?

On Oklahoma's ballot this year in the presidential primaries are eight Republicans, six Democrats and two Libertarians.

Republican candidates:

  • Donald J. Trump, 77

  • Nikki Haley, 51

  • Ron DeSantis, 45

  • Chris Christie, 61

  • Ryan L. Binkley, 56

  • David Stuckenberg, 42

  • Asa Hutchinson, 73

  • Vivek Ramaswamy, 38

Democratic candidates:

  • Joseph Biden Jr., 81

  • Dean Phillips, 54

  • Armando “Mando” Perez-Serrato, 47

  • Marianne Williamson, 71

  • Stephen Lyons, 62

  • Cenk Uygur, 53

Libertarian candidates

  • Jacob Hornberger, 73

  • Chase Oliver, 38

What else should voters know if they want to participate?

Use the OK Voter Portal to find your polling place, change an address, change your political affiliation and view a sample ballot.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma primaries: What to know about elections, voting