Oklahoma 2024 ballot measures

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In 2024, two statewide ballot measures were on the ballot in Oklahoma for November 5.

On the ballot

Type	Title	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	State Question 833	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		559,982 (38%)	898,526 (62%)
LRCA	State Question 834	Prohibit the state and local governments from allowing noncitizens to vote	a	1,207,520 (81%)	288,267 (19%)

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.

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.

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.

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

See also: List of Oklahoma ballot measures and History of Initiative & Referendum in Oklahoma

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
				#	%	#	%
139	3.27	0	11	105	75.54	34	24.46

Ballot initiative certification rates

See also: Ballot initiatives filed for the 2022 ballot

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
		#	%
2020	12	2	16.7
2018	7	2	28.6
2016	13	3	23.1
2014	8	0	0.0
2012	4	0	0.0
2010	2	1	50.0
Averages	7.7	1.3	19.7

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 seven presidential elections between 2000 and 2024.

More Oklahoma coverage on Ballotpedia

• Elections in Oklahoma
• United States congressional delegations from Oklahoma
• Public policy in Oklahoma
• Endorsers in Oklahoma
• Oklahoma fact checks
• More...

See also

• 2024 ballot measures
• Oklahoma signature requirements
• Laws governing the initiative process in Oklahoma
• Oklahoma Legislature