Elections; closed primaries; political party; paying cost; open primaries; effective date.

HB 1712 modifies Oklahoma election law to give political parties control over primary voting access. It requires parties choosing closed primaries (limiting voting to registered party members) to cover all election costs for those primaries, rather than passing costs to taxpayers. Parties must notify the State Election Board by November 1 (or December 15 for changes) whether they allow independent voters to participate in their primaries. Independent voters may only cast ballots in one party's primary, and failure to notify the Board bars independent voting in that party's primary. The bill takes effect November 1, 2025.