Coming Monday: Number of registered independent voters on rise in Oklahoma
By CURTIS KILLMAN World Staff Writer on Sep 15, 2013, at 2:56 PM Updated on 9/15/13 at 4:15 PM
Election
Most other area school districts that had bond elections Tuesday also approved them.
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Since state Election Board officials removed about 145,294 inactive voters from the rolls earlier this year, something odd has occurred.
The number of independent voters registering to vote since the purge has outpaced registrations of both the Republican and Democrat parties.
Independents have added 4,582 new voters to their ranks since the March purge, a World analysis of voter records indicates. Republicans have added 1,544 new voters.
Democrats, meanwhile, have seen their ranks shrink by 3,306 voters.
Officials both inside and outside the party machineries had differing views as to what might be the cause of the surge in independent, or unaffiliated voters.
“I know people are frustrated,” said Richard Prawdzienski, an Edmond resident, Libertarian Party member and registered independent, who has run unsuccessfully for several elected positions.
“Hypocrites,” “corruption” and “tyranny” are common words Prawdzienski said he hears from those fed up with the two major parties.
State GOP party chairman David Weston said the increase in independent registrations reflect conservative Democrats who feel disenfranchised.
“It looks to me as if they are looking for a place to land,” Weston said.
For more on this story, see the Tulsa World's print and online editions Monday.
Election
Most other area school districts that had bond elections Tuesday also approved them.
CONTACT THE REPORTER
918-581-8471
Email
