By Constitution Staff

Oklahoma voters will find two State Questions on the General Election ballot on November 5. Both measures were referrals by the Oklahoma Legislature from the 2024 legislative session. A third measure, the result of an initiative petition to raise the minimum wage, failed to complete the process in time to be placed on this year’s ballot.

Oklahoman’s have voted on over 400 State Questions since statehood. Proposals are often placed on the ballot through the initiative petition process by collecting the signatures of a sufficient number of voters. But State Questions can also be initiated by the Legislature with passage of a resolution in both chambers, and does not require approval of the governor. The Oklahoma Legislature submitted two legislative referendums this year. State Question 833 would allow municipalities to create public infrastructure districts. State Question 834 would clarify that only U.S. citizens may vote in Oklahoma elections.

On July 15, supporters of an initiative petition to place State Question 832 on the ballot submitted nearly 180,000 signatures. The proposal would gradually raise the minimum wage in Oklahoma from the current $7.25 per hour to $15 in 2029 and future increases would be tied U.S. Department of Labor’s Consumer Price Index. Raise the Wage Oklahoma needed to collect 92,263 valid signatures to get the measure on the ballot. The Secretary of State verified 157,287 signatures and filed the certification with the Oklahoma Supreme Court on August 12. The notice for protests was published on August 21, and no protests were submitted by the 10 business day deadline. The certification was sent to the governor on September 5 to set an election date.

Since the 75-day (August 21, 2024) deadline for the upcoming General Election had passed, Gov. Kevin Stitt scheduled the election for the next statewide election which will be the June 16, 2026 Primary Election ballot. In a statement, Governor Stitt said setting the question for the next eligible statewide election would save the state $1.8 million compared to holding a Special Election for the measure. So, voters will only find the two legislative referrals on the ballot in the upcoming election.

State Question 833 - Public Infrastructure Districts

Senate Joint Resolution 16, by Sen. John Haste (R-Broken Arrow) and Rep. Terry O’Donnell (R-Catoosa), would amend the Oklahoma Constitution to let municipalities create Public Infrastructure Districts (PID). If approved by voters, cities will be able to use a PID to finance infrastructure improvements. The PIDs can be used for infrastructure improvements such as roads, sidewalks, parks, water, and sewer to serve developments. “Oklahoma has a housing shortage across the state, and we know one of the most significant barriers to new homes is the need to build the necessary infrastructure to support them,” Haste said. “PIDs will help our municipalities finance the infrastructure to handle our state’s growth.”

If passed, State Question 833 would allow surface property owners in a portion of a municipality to petition to create a PID to finance infrastructure in that area. If approved by the city council, the PID would be able to issue bonds to finance the infrastructure in the area and repay the bonds through an up to 10 mill property tax assessment on properties in the PID.

Ballot Title for State Question 833

This measure adds a new section, section 9E, to article 10 of the Oklahoma Constitution. Section 9E will permit the creation of public infrastructure districts to provide support, organization, operation, and maintenance of services. To create such a district, proponents for creating the district must file a petition with the municipality. The petition must include the signatures of one hundred percent of all surface property owners falling within the district’s proposed boundaries. The municipality possesses the right to impose limitations on the district’s powers prior to approving the district. Once approved, the district will be governed by a board of trustees.

Through the board, the district may issue bonds to pay for all or part of all public improvements

implemented by and for the public infrastructure district. The district will be limited to issuing bonds issued for such improvements not exceeding ten (10) mills. For repayment of the bonds, the district, acting through its board of trustees, will levy and assess a special assessment on all property benefiting from the improvements in the district. Section 9E also authorizes the Legislature to enact laws necessary for the implementation of public infrastructure districts.

SHALL THE PROPOSAL BE APPROVED?

FOR THE PROPOSAL - YES

AGAINST THE PROPOSAL - NO

State Question 834 - Qualifications of Electors

Senate Joint Resolution 23 by Sen. Micheal Bergstrom (R-Adair) and Speaker of the House Charles McCall (R-Atoka) aims to clarify and secure the voting rights of United States citizens in Oklahoma. The measure would amend the state constitution to clarifying that only citizens of the United States are qualified to vote in Oklahoma. The amended language would help prevent any confusion or disputes regarding voter eligibility in future elections. The current language could be interpreted by Oklahoma’s undependable high court to allow any Oklahoma resident to vote regardless of citizenship.

Ballot Title for State Question 834

This measure amends Section 1 of Article 3 of the Oklahoma Constitution. It clarifies that only citizens of the United States are qualified to vote in this state.

SHALL THE PROPOSAL BE APPROVED?

FOR THE PROPOSAL - YES

AGAINST THE PROPOSAL - NO