Oklahoma's Early Presidential Primary

Oklahoma holds primary elections to select nominees for President of the United States. The election date is held early enough in a presidential election year to place Oklahoma among the first states to vote for Presidential hopefuls. Oklahoma will follow the traditional first primaries in New Hampshire and Iowa, which are always the first to select nominees for their respective caucuses.

These elections are expected to draw national attention as the candidates and campaigns will be motivated to spend more time, money and draw attention to the Sooner state in order to develop momentum in the early primary season.

In 2003, during the efforts to pass the legislation that made the early date possible, the late Senator Keith Leftwich said, "I want to make Oklahoma as important to the Presidential candidates as it is to us. Oklahoma has a model election system. By making Oklahoma's Presidential Primary date soon after the New Hampshire Primary, candidates will feel impelled to direct their campaign trail throughout our state."

The next primary for Oklahoma voters is Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2012.