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Oklahoma 2022 ballot measures
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Zero statewide ballot measures were certified to appear on the ballot in the state of Oklahoma.
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—177,958 for the 2022 ballot. For initiated state statutes, the requirement is 8%—94,911 for the 2022 ballot—and for veto referendums, the requirement is 5%—59,320 for the 2022 ballot.
Signature deadlines
Once an initiative petition is filed, protests may be filed challenging the sufficiency of the petition within 10 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. Once a signature count is completed by the secretary of state, a report is forwarded to the state supreme court. 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 10 days. For example, to qualify an initiative for the November 2022 ballot, Oklahoma elections officials recommend filing the initiative proposal in the early months of 2021. 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 (August 30, 2022, to qualify for the November 8, 2022, ballot). 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. [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 10 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.
The legislature adjourned its 2021 session on May 27, 2021, and adjourned its 2022 session on May 27, 2022.
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 | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CISS | Marijuana Legalization Initiative | Marijuana | Legalizes marijuana use for individuals 21 years old and older | 
|
| CICA | Oklahoma State Question 812, Marijuana Decriminalization Initiative | Marijuana | Decriminalizes certain marijuana-related offenses | 
|
| CICA | Oklahoma State Question 813, Marijuana Legalization Initiative | Marijuana | Legalizes and regulates marijuana for persons 18 years old and older and imposes a 25% excise tax on marijuana sales |
|
| CICA | Oklahoma State Question 815, Independent Redistricting Commission Initiative | Redistricting | Creates an independent redistricting commission responsible for congressional and state legislative redistricting |
|
| CICA | State Question 818, Cannabis Commission and Medical Marijuana Regulation Initiative | Marijuana | Creates the Oklahoma State Cannabis Commission to replace the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority and to regulate medical marijuana, cannabis, and hemp |
|
| CICA | State Question 819, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (constitutional) | Marijuana | Legalizes marijuana use for individuals 21 years old and older and taxes marijuana sales at 15% |
|
| VR | Penalties for Rioting and Immunity for Vehicle Operators Fleeing Riots Referendum | Civil and criminal trials | Upholds or repeals House Bill 1674, which was designed to (1) make unlawfully obstructing use of public roads a misdemeanor and prescribe penalties for those found guilty of participation in a riot and (2) grant criminal and civil immunity in certain circumstances to vehicle operators who flee from a riot if they cause injury or death |
|
| LRCA | Rainy Day Fund Deposit Calculation Amendment | State gov't finance | Changes the basis of the calculation for the maximum allowed balance in the state's Constitutional Reserve Fund |
|
| LRCA | Establish Rights of Unborn Persons Amendment (SJR 17) | Abortion and Constitutional rights | States that the rights of unborn persons are equal to those of born persons and defines life as beginning at conception |
|
| LRCA | Citizen Requirement for Voting Amendment (SJR 27) | Suffrage | Amends the Oklahoma Constitution to state that “only a citizen” of the U.S. who is 18 years old or older can vote in Oklahoma |
|
| LRCA | Constitutional Reserve Fund Deposit Cap Increase Amendment (SJR 34) | Budgets | Increases the cap on the amount of excess revenue that can be deposited into the Constitutional Reserve Fund from 15% to 25% of the amount certified for the general fund for the last fiscal year |
|
| LRCA | Taxpayer Allocation Program Fund Amendment (SJR 35) | Budgets | Creates the Taxpayer Allocation Program Fund |
|
| LRCA | Local Government Bonds for Community and Economic Development Amendment (SJR 36) | Budgets | Authorizes counties and local governments to appropriate funds and issue bonds for community and economic development with local voter approval |
|
| LRCA | No Right to Abortion in Constitution Amendment (SJR 37) | Abortion | States that nothing in the Oklahoma Constitution secures or protects the right to an abortion |
|
| LRCA | Judicial Selection Process Amendment (SJR 43) | State judiciary | Provides for a new court structure in Oklahoma in which the Governor will select appellate court judges subject to Senate confirmation, with such judges to stand for retention elections every six years, and provides that trial court judges will be elected in the same manner as other county officers |
|
| LRCA | Voter Identification Amendment (SJR 48) | Suffrage | Requires valid identification to vote |
|
| LRCA | County Signature Distribution Requirement for Initiatives Amendment (HJR 1002) | Direct Democracy | Changes the signature requirement for initiatives in Oklahoma from a percentage of voters statewide (8% for statutory initiatives, 15% for constitutional amendments, and 5% for veto referendums) to the same percentage of voters in each county |
|
| LRCA | Remove Income Limit from Senior Property Valuation Freeze Amendment (HJR 1047) | Taxes and Property | Removes the household income limit for property owners age 65 and older to qualify for the Senior Property Valuation Freeze |
|
| LRCA | Citizen Requirement for Voting and Voter Identification Amendment (HJR 1048) | Suffrage | Amends the Oklahoma Constitution to state that “only a citizen” of the U.S. who is 18 years old or older and can vote in Oklahoma with a valid federal, state, or tribal identification card |
|
| LRCA | Fiscal Impact Statement in Ballot Titles Amendment (HJR 1052) | Direct Democracy | Requires all ballot measures (including those placed on the ballot through successful initiative petition and those referred to the ballot by the state legislature) to include a fiscal impact statement written by the State Auditor and Inspector on the measure's ballot title |
|
| LRCA | 55% Vote Requirement for Initiatives Measure (HJR 1058) | Direct Democracy | Requires a 55% vote for voters to pass an initiated measure, except for those that repeal constitutional provisions and referendums |
|
| LRCA | 55% Vote Requirement for Legislative Constitutional Amendments Measure (HJR 1059) | Direct Democracy | Requires a 55% vote for voters to pass a legislatively referred constitutional amendment, except for amendments that repeal constitutional provisions |
|
| LRSS | Permanent Standard Time Measure (HB 3146) | Time | Adopts permanent standard time in Oklahoma |
|
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
- 2022 ballot measures
- Oklahoma signature requirements
- Laws governing the initiative process in Oklahoma
- Oklahoma Legislature
Footnotes
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