Oklahoma 2024 ballot measures
As of June 14, 2024, two statewide ballot measures were certified to appear on the 2024 ballot in the state of Oklahoma.
On the ballot
| Type | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Citizenship Requirement for Voting Amendment | Provide in the state constitution that only a citizen (rather than every citizen) of the U.S. may vote | |
| Public Infrastructure Districts Amendment | Allow municipalities to create public infrastructure districts when all property owners within the proposed district sign a petition and give public infrastructure districts the authority to issue bonds for public improvements if approved by voters within the district |
Potential measures
| Type | Title | Subject | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| CISS | Minimum Wage Increase Initiative | Minimum wage | Increases the state minimum wage to $9 per hour in 2025, $10.50 per hour in 2026, $12 per hour in 2027, $13.50 per hour in 2028, and $15 per hour in 2029 |
Getting measures on the ballot
See also: Laws governing ballot measures in Oklahoma
Initiatives and referendums
Oklahoma has processes for initiated constitutional amendments, initiated state statutes, and veto referendums, making it one of 26 states in which statewide ballot measures can qualify for the ballot through a signature petition.
Signature requirements
The number of signatures required to qualify initiatives and veto referendums for the ballot is tied to the total votes cast for governor in the last gubernatorial election. For a signature petition to initiate a constitutional amendment, valid signatures must equal 15% of votes cast for governor in the last gubernatorial election. For initiated state statutes, the requirement is 8% and for veto referendums, the requirement is 5%. Oklahoma held an election for governor on November 8, 2022.
Signature deadlines
Once an initiative petition is filed, protests may be filed challenging the sufficiency of the petition within 90 days after the notice of filing is published. The Secretary of State sets the date for signature collection to begin at least 15 days (but no more than 30 days) after any/all protests challenging the petition have been resolved. Initiatives can be circulated for a maximum of 90 days; with signatures being due by 5:00 p.m. local time on the 90th day. State elections officials in Oklahoma recommend filing a proposed initiative during the first months of the year preceding the targeted election year due to the two periods during which challenges may be filed against an initiative. For a measure to appear on the ballot, signatures must be submitted long enough in advance for the governor to issue an election proclamation, which must be issued and certified to the State Election Board at least 70 days prior to an election.[1]
Signature verification
Once signatures are submitted, the Secretary of State's office counts the signatures and submits a report to the state supreme court, which determines the sufficiency of the signatures counted by the Secretary of State. After the supreme court determines the sufficiency of signatures, the court orders the Secretary of State to publish a notice of the signature submission, the ballot title, and notice that any citizen may file a petition with the supreme court challenging the sufficiency of the signatures or ballot title within 90 days.[1]
After the petition is found to have sufficient signatures and all challenges have been resolved, the Secretary of State notifies the governor, who issues an election proclamation. The governor’s election proclamation must be issued and certified to the State Election Board at least 70 days prior to an election in order for a state question to appear on a ballot. Measures are generally placed on the next general election ballot, but the governor may call a special election or place the measure on the primary ballot.[1]
Legislative referrals
The state legislature can also put statewide measures on the ballot. Proposed constitutional amendments must be referred to the ballot and receive voter approval to be enacted. To put a proposed constitutional amendment on a general election ballot, a simple majority vote of all members in both the Oklahoma State Senate and the Oklahoma House of Representatives is required. If the legislature wants a proposed amendment to go on a special election ballot, it has to approve the amendment by a two-thirds (66.67%) vote.
The legislature can also refer state statutes to the ballot. In some cases, voter approval is required. For example, bills that raise revenue must pass in both the House and Senate with at least a three-fourths supermajority to be enacted without voter approval; if a revenue increasing bill passes by more a simple majority but less than a three-fourths supermajority, they must be referred to the ballot.
Historical facts
In Oklahoma, a total of 139 ballot measures appeared on statewide ballots between 1985 and 2020. One hundred five ballot measures were approved, and 34 ballot measures were defeated.
| Oklahoma statewide ballot measures, 1985-2020 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total number | Annual average | Annual minimum | Annual maximum | Approved | Defeated | ||
| # | % | # | % | ||||
Ballot initiative certification rates
The following table shows the rate of certification for ballot initiatives in Oklahoma between 2010 and 2020:
| Oklahoma statewide ballot initiatives filed and certified, 2010-2020 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Ballot initiatives filed | Certified | |
| # | % | ||
| Averages | |||
Not on the ballot
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CICA | Homestead Fair Cash Value Freeze for Individuals Aged 65 and Older Initiative | Taxes and Property | For heads of household age 65 and older: freezes the fair cash value of a homestead at the fair cash value assessment on the property during the first year the head of household turns 65 | 
|
| CICA | Right to Reproductive Freedom Initiative | Abortion | Provides a state constitutional right to reproductive freedom, defined to include abortion, contraception, sterilization, miscarriage management, and all matters related to pregnancy |
|
| CICA | Prohibit Banning Books Initiative | Education | Adds a sentence to the state constitution stating, "Subject to advice and consent of Indian tribes and Nations on treaty land, no books shall be banned" |
|
| CICA | Abolish Death Penalty Initiative | Dealth penalty | Adds a sentence to the state constitution stating, "Subject to advice and consent of Indian tribes and Nations on treaty land, the death penalty is hereby abolished" |
|
| CICA | Reproductive Rights Initiative | Abortion | Adds a sentence to the state constitution stating, "Subject to advice and consent of Indian tribes and Nations on treaty land, the reproductive rights of all persons are inherent, sovereign, and shall not be infringed" |
|
| CICA | History Education Initiative | Education | Prohibits the Legislature from passing laws that ban "public schools and publicly funded private charter schools from teaching historical truths," including on the relationship between indigenous people and European immigrants, slavery and segregation, and other subjects |
|
| CICA | Indian Tribes and Nations to Ban Persons Deemed Intruders Initiative | American Indian issues | Provides that any person deemed an intruder by an Indian Tribe or Nation can be banned by public notice from Indian Territory |
|
| CICA | Abolish Oklahoma Turnpike Authority and Remove Tolls Initiative | Transportation and Constitutional rights | Abolishes the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority and provides that "Subject to advice and consent of Indian tribes and Nations on treaty land ... the right of the people to travel ... shall not be infringed by payment of tolls" |
|
| CICA | Expanded Use of Permanent School Fund Money Initiative | Education | Allows the permanent school fund to be used for childhood care and education subject to advice and consent of Indian tribes and Nations on treaty land |
|
| CICA | Constitutional Right to Healthcare Initiative | Healthcare and Constitutional rights | Provides that "Subject to advice and consent of Indian tribes and Nations on treaty land ... the right of all persons to proper, appropriate, professional medical and mental health care shall not be infringed, regardless of gender identity" |
|
| LRCA | Right to Keep and Bear Arms Amendment | Firearms and Constitutional rights | Expand the constitutional right to keep and bear arms; prohibit taxes on the purchase or transfer of firearms, ammunition, or accessories |
|
| LRCA | Double Income Limit for Property Tax Benefit Amendment | Taxes and Property | Double the amount of income a person can receive and still qualify for the property tax benefit that freezes the fair cash value of a homestead when a person reaches 65 |
|
| LRCA | Authorizing State Legislators to be Teachers at Completion of Term Amendment | State legislatures measures | Authorizes state legislators to be employed as public school teachers after completing their elected term |
|
| LRCA | Pardon and Parole Board Recommendations for Clemency in Death Sentences Amendment | State judiciary | Provide that a tie vote by the Pardon and Parole Board on recommendations for clemency when an applicant received a death sentence is not a denial of clemency; provide that seven alternate members of the board be appointed to serve in certain circumstances |
|
| LRCA | Repeal Judicial Nominating Commission Amendment | State judiciary | Remove the Judicial Nominating Commission; making judicial offices appointed by the governor with confirmation of the Senate |
|
State profile
| Demographic data for Oklahoma | ||
|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma | U.S. | |
| Total population: | 3,907,414 | 316,515,021 |
| Land area (sq mi): | 68,595 | 3,531,905 |
| Race and ethnicity** | ||
| White: | 73.1% | 73.6% |
| Black/African American: | 7.2% | 12.6% |
| Asian: | 1.9% | 5.1% |
| Native American: | 7.3% | 0.8% |
| Pacific Islander: | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| Two or more: | 7.8% | 3% |
| Hispanic/Latino: | 9.6% | 17.1% |
| Education | ||
| High school graduation rate: | 86.9% | 86.7% |
| College graduation rate: | 24.1% | 29.8% |
| Income | ||
| Median household income: | $46,879 | $53,889 |
| Persons below poverty level: | 19.7% | 11.3% |
| Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015) Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Oklahoma. **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here. | ||
Presidential voting pattern
- See also: Presidential voting trends in Oklahoma
Oklahoma voted Republican in all six presidential elections between 2000 and 2020.
More Oklahoma coverage on Ballotpedia
- Elections in Oklahoma
- United States congressional delegations from Oklahoma
- Public policy in Oklahoma
- Influencers in Oklahoma
- Oklahoma fact checks
- More...
See also
- 2024 ballot measures
- Oklahoma signature requirements
- Laws governing the initiative process in Oklahoma
- Oklahoma Legislature
Footnotes
 |
State of Oklahoma Oklahoma City (capital) |
|---|---|
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