General Elections

What is a general election? 

The general election is the final step in the process to elect officials for partisan offices. The general election follows the primary election and runoff primary election, in which all recognized political parties in Oklahoma select their nominees (or candidates) for the ballot. The general election also includes judicial elections, judicial retention questions, state questions, and county and local elections.

HOW GENERAL ELECTIONS WORK

All recognized political parties in Oklahoma may have one candidate, per partisan office on the general election ballot. Recognized political party candidates are chosen by registered voters of their respective political parties during the primary election or runoff primary election. There are three recognized parties in Oklahoma: Republican, Democratic, and Libertarian.

Independent candidates are not affiliated with any political party; therefore, the general election ballot may contain an unlimited number of Independent candidates for a particular office. Independent candidates who file for a partisan office automatically advance to the general election. No primary election or runoff primary election is required or allowed by law for Independent candidates.

Voters may vote for any candidate on the ballot regardless of their political party affiliation or the candidate’s political party affiliation. In other words, you do not have to vote for your political party’s candidate just because you are a member of that party. You may vote for any political party’s candidate or an Independent candidate.

UNOPPOSED CANDIDATES

If a candidate files unopposed, the candidate will be deemed the elected official by default (unless a contest of candidacy is filed) and will not appear on any ballot.