Oklahoma State Question 832, $15 Minimum Wage Initiative (June 2026)

Oklahoma State Question 832
Election date June 16, 2026
Topic Minimum wage laws
Status On the ballot
Type Initiated state statute	Origin Citizens

State Question 832, the $15 Minimum Wage Initiative, is on the ballot in Oklahoma as an initiated state statute on June 16, 2026.

A "yes" vote supports the following: increasing the minimum wage to $12 per hour in 2027, $13.50 in 2028, $15 in 2029; increasing the minimum wage each year after 2029 according to cost of living increases; and making part-time employees, students, minors, farm and agricultural workers, domestic service workers, newspaper vendors and carriers, and feedstore employees subject to the state minimum wage.

A "no" vote opposes the ballot initiative, keeping the state’s minimum wage at $7.25 per hour.

Overview

How would the initiative change the state's minimum wage?

See also: Text of measure

The ballot measure would increase the state minimum wage to $12 per hour in 2027, $13.50 in 2028, and $15 in 2029. Beginning in 2030, the wage would be adjusted based on changes to inflation. The initiative was originally designed to be placed on the ballot in 2024, with wages increasing to $9 per hour in 2025 and $10.50 in 2026.

Governor Kevin Stitt (R) issued an executive order placing the measure on the June 2026 ballot. The order included a provision stating that the initiative would take effect on January 1, 2027 if it were approved, and that it would not apply retroactively. Therefore, even though the initiative contains language that would increase the state minimum wage in 2025 and 2026, the state's minimum wage would automatically increase to $12 per hour on January 1, 2027 if the measure is approved.

The initiative would remove the exceptions from the Oklahoma Minimum Wage Act that did not include the following workers in the definition of employee, meaning the following types of workers would be considered employees under the initiative:

• part-time employees;
• certain students and individuals under 18;
• farm and agricultural workers;
• domestic service workers;
• newspaper vendors and carriers; and
• feedstore employees.

How does Oklahoma's minimum wage compare to other states?

See also: Background

The minimum wage in Oklahoma has been $7.25 (the federal minimum wage) since 2009. As of 2025, Oklahoma was one of 20 states that use the federal minimum wage rate of $7.25. The other 30 states provide for state minimum wages above the federal minimum wage. Click here to see the minimum wages in each state.

The average state minimum wage in 2024 is $10.69.

Across the U.S., from 1996 to 2025, there were 32 minimum wage increase measures on statewide ballots. Voters approved 28 (87.50%) and rejected four (12.50%).

What are supporters and opponents saying about this initiative?

See also: Support and Opposition

Raise The Wage Oklahoma is leading the Yes on SQ 832 campaign. Raise the Wage Oklahoma spokesperson Amber England said, "The costs of gas, groceries and housing have all gone up, but wages have largely stayed the same. Voters across the state are excited to vote yes to help lift the wages of workers doing essential jobs like caring for the most vulnerable among us in nursing homes and hospitals and those working in industries that care for Oklahoma’s young children in childcare."

The Oklahoma Farm Bureau and the Oklahoma State Chamber of Commerce oppose the initiative. Ben Lepak, the executive director of the State Chamber Research Foundation, said, "This is a disastrous policy that will crush working families through price increases on the heels of record inflation. This ballot initiative is bad for workers, bad for business, and bad for Oklahoma, and we are confident the voters of the State of Oklahoma will concur with our position. We look forward to a vigorous campaign to educate Oklahomans about the initiative that will put corner stores and family farms out of business."

Text of measure

Ballot title

The official ballot title is as follows:

“

This measure amends the Oklahoma Minimum Wage Act ("OMWA") under the Oklahoma Statutes to increase the state minimum wage. Employers must pay employees at least $9 per hour beginning in 2025, increasing $1.50 annually for a final rate of$15 per hour in 2029. Beginning in 2030 and continuing indefinitely, the minimum wage would automatically increase annually based on the increase in the cost of living, if any, as measured by the U.S. Department of Labor's Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers; the minimum wage increase would continue with any successor agency or index. Such increase would also not require approval from Congress or the Oklahoma Legislature. This measure eliminates several exemptions in the current OMW A, including the exemptions for employers subject to the federal Fair Labor Standards Act; part-time employees; certain students and individuals under age 18; farm and agricultural workers; domestic service workers; newspaper vendors or carriers; and feedstore employees. Effectively, eliminating these exemptions results in current employees not covered by the OMW A now being entitled to the minimum wage. The measure also repeals title 40, section 197.5. Federal and state employees will not be covered under the OMW A. Volunteers; employers with ten or fewer employees and grossing $100,000 or less; some employees of carriers engaged in interstate commerce; employees working in a bona fide executive, administrative, or professional capacity; outside salesmen; and reserve deputy sheriffs will remain excluded from the OMW A's coverage. Because counties, municipalities, and school districts are not excluded, a fiscal impact on the State will result, possibly necessitating in a revenue increase by new taxes or elimination of existing services. The measure will be effective the January I following approval and will not apply retroactively. SHALL THE PROPOSAL BE APPROVED? FOR THE PROPOSAL - YES AGAINST THE PROPOSAL - NO A "YES" vote is a vote in favor of this measure. A "NO" vote is a vote against this measure.

”

Full text

The full text of the initiative is below:

Support

Yes on SQ 832 - Raise The Wage Oklahoma is leading the campaign in support of the initiative.

Supporters

Unions

• National Education Association
• Oklahoma AFL-CIO

Organizations

• Oklahoma Decides Inc.
• Tulsa Community Foundation

Arguments

• Raise the Wage Oklahoma spokesperson Amber England: "The costs of gas, groceries and housing have all gone up, but wages have largely stayed the same. Voters across the state are excited to vote yes to help lift the wages of workers doing essential jobs like caring for the most vulnerable among us in nursing homes and hospitals and those working in industries that care for Oklahoma’s young children in childcare."
• Raise The Wage Oklahoma: "Costs are skyrocketing – but wages haven’t kept up. Working Oklahomans need a raise. Thousands of Oklahomans work full-time and earn less than $15,100 a year on minimum wage. People who work for a living should earn a living. The cost of groceries, gas, and housing keep going up – but wages haven’t kept up. Raising the minimum wage helps hard-working Oklahomans feed their families and pay for housing. Oklahoma parents shouldn’t have to work two jobs to put food on the table. Too many Oklahoma parents work – often at more than one job – but struggle to stay afloat when they earn $290 a week. Raising the minimum wage makes our communities stronger. Hourly employees, like healthcare and childcare workers, are the foundation of our communities. They work for a living and should be able to make a living."

Opposition

Opponents

Organizations

• Oklahoma Farm Bureau
• Oklahoma State Chamber of Commerce

Arguments

• Oklahoma State Chamber of Commerce: "This is a disastrous policy that will crush working families through price increases on the heels of record inflation. This ballot initiative is bad for workers, bad for business, and bad for Oklahoma, and we are confident the voters of the State of Oklahoma will concur with our position. We look forward to a vigorous campaign to educate Oklahomans about the initiative that will put corner stores and family farms out of business. SQ 832 harms small businesses and family farms because drives up the cost of everything on the heels of already high inflation. This harms consumers who struggle to pay more for gas and groceries, small businesses, whose costs will increase, and family farms, who already operate on very thin margins."

Campaign finance

See also: Campaign finance requirements for Oklahoma ballot measures

The campaign finance information on this page reflects the most recent scheduled reports that Ballotpedia has processed, which covered through December 31, 2024. The deadline for the next scheduled reports is January 31, 2026.

Yes on SQ 832- Raise The Wage Oklahoma registered to support the initiative. The committee reported $1.34 million in contributions.

Ballotpedia has not identified a campaign registered to oppose the initiative.

	Cash Contributions	In-Kind Contributions	Total Contributions	Cash Expenditures	Total Expenditures
Support	$1,340,560.00	$0.00	$1,340,560.00	$958,611.60	$958,611.60
Oppose	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00
Total	$1,340,560.00	$0.00	$1,340,560.00	$958,611.60	$958,611.60

Support

The following table includes contribution and expenditure totals for the committee in support of the initiative.

Committees in support of State Question 832
Committee	Cash Contributions	In-Kind Contributions	Total Contributions	Cash Expenditures	Total Expenditures
Yes on SQ 832 - Raise The Wage Oklahoma	$1,340,560.00	$0.00	$1,340,560.00	$958,611.60	$958,611.60
Total	$1,340,560.00	$0.00	$1,340,560.00	$958,611.60	$958,611.60

Donors

The five top donors to the support campaign were as follows:

Donor	Cash Contributions	In-Kind Contributions	Total Contributions
Tulsa Community Foundation	$400,000.00	$0.00	$400,000.00
Lynn Schustermann	$375,000.00	$0.00	$375,000.00
National Education Association	$250,000.00	$0.00	$250,000.00
Oklahoma Decides Inc.	$250,000.00	$0.00	$250,000.00
Oklahoma AFL-CIO	$15,000.00	$0.00	$15,000.00

Opposition

Ballotpedia has not identified a campaign registered to oppose the initiative.

Methodology

To read Ballotpedia's methodology for covering ballot measure campaign finance information, click here.

Background

Minimum wage in Oklahoma

Oklahoma’s minimum wage has been $7.25—the federal minimum wage—since 2009. As of 2025, Oklahoma was one of 20 states that follow the federal rate, while the remaining 30 states set minimum wages above $7.25.

Oklahoma's minimum wages have followed the federal minimum wages:

• $5.85 per hour effective July 24, 2007;
• $6.55 per hour effective July 24, 2008; and
• $7.25 per hour effective July 24, 2009.

Oklahoma's tipped minimum wage is $2.13 per hour.

Minimum wages in 2025

The average state minimum wage in 2025 was $11.18.

The top five highest 2025 statewide minimum wages were set to be as follows:

• $17.50 in Washington, D.C.;
• $16.66 in Washington;
• $16.50 in California,
• $16.35 in Connecticut; and
• $15.50 in New York.

The lowest minimum wages based on state law were $5.15 in Georgia and Wyoming, which were lower than the federal government's requirement. When the state rate is lower than the federal rate, the federal minimum wage of $7.25 supersedes state law for most types of employees. Twenty (20) states, including Oklahoma, used the federal minimum wage rate of $7.25.

The map below shows state minimum wages in 2025.

Outcomes of minimum wage measures, 1996-2025

From 1996 to 2025, there were 32 ballot measures to increase state minimum wages. Voters approved 28 (87.50%) and rejected four (12.50%). In 2024, California and Massachusetts became the first states to reject minimum wage increase ballot measures since 1996. The other two defeated measures were on the ballot in 1996 in Missouri and Montana.

The following chart shows the outcomes of minimum-wage increase ballot measures from 1996 to 2025.

Measures to increase state minimum wages (1996–2025)

Year	State	Measure	Wage	Type	Yes votes (%)	No votes (%)	Outcome
2024	California	Proposition 32	$18.00 (2026)	Initiative	49.29%	50.71%	d
2024	Massachusetts	Question 5	$15.00 (2029)	Initiative	35.87%	64.13%	d
2024	Missouri	Proposition A	$15.00 (2026)	Initiative	57.57%	42.43%	a
2024	Alaska	Ballot Measure 1	$15.00 (2027)	Initiative	57.98%	42.02%	a
2022	Nebraska	Initiative 433	$15.00 (2026)	Initiative	58.66%	41.34%	a
2022	Nevada	Amendment 2	$12.00 (2024)	Referral	55.18%	44.82%	a
2020	Florida	Amendment 2	$15.00 (2026)	Initiative	60.82%	39.18%	a
2018	Arkansas	Issue 5	$11.00 (2021)	Initiative	68.46%	31.54%	a
2018	Missouri	Proposition B	$12.00 (2023)	Initiative	62.34%	37.66%	a
2016	Arizona	Proposition 206	$12.00 (2020)	Initiative	58.33%	41.67%	a
2016	Colorado	Amendment 70	$12.00 (2020)	Initiative	55.36%	44.64%	a
2016	Maine	Question 4	$12.00 (2020)	Initiative	55.50%	44.50%	a
2016	Washington	Initiative 1433	$13.50 (2020)	Initiative	57.42%	42.58%	a
2014	Alaska	Measure 3	$9.75 (2016)	Initiative	69.35%	30.65%	a
2014	Arkansas	Issue 5	$8.50 (2017)	Initiative	65.94%	34.06%	a
2014	Nebraska	Initiative 425	$9.00 (2016)	Initiative	59.47%	40.53%	a
2014	South Dakota	Measure 18	$8.50 (2015)	Initiative	55.05%	44.95%	a
2013	New Jersey	Question 2	$8.25 (2014)	Referral	61.26%	38.74%	a
2006	Arizona	Proposition 202	$6.75 (2007)	Initiative	65.37%	34.63%	a
2006	Colorado	Initiative 42	$6.85 (2007)	Initiative	53.30%	46.70%	a
2006	Missouri	Proposition B	$6.50 (2007)	Initiative	75.94%	24.06%	a
2006	Montana	I-151	$6.50 (2007)	Initiative	72.69%	27.31%	a
2006	Nevada	Question 6	$6.15 (2006)	Initiative	68.71%	31.29%	a
2006	Ohio	Amendment 2	$6.85 (2007)	Initiative	56.65%	43.35%	a
2004	Florida	Amendment 5	$6.15 (2005)	Initiative	71.25%	28.75%	a
2004	Nevada	Question 6	$6.15 (2006)	Initiative	68.39%	31.61%	a
2002	Oregon	Measure 25	$6.90 (2003)	Initiative	51.33%	48.67%	a
1998	Washington	Initiative 688	$6.50 (2000)	Initiative	66.14%	33.86%	a
1996	California	Proposition 210	$5.75 (1998)	Initiative	61.45%	38.55%	a
1996	Missouri	Proposition A	$6.75 (1999)	Initiative	28.70%	71.30%	d
1996	Montana	I-121	$6.25 (2000)	Initiative	43.53%	56.47%	d
1996	Oregon	Measure 36	$6.50 (1999)	Initiative	56.85%	43.15%	a
Average					58.88%	41.12%

Path to the ballot

See also: Laws governing the initiative process in Oklahoma

Process in Oklahoma

In Oklahoma, the number of signatures required to qualify an initiated state statute for the ballot is equal to 8 percent of the votes cast for governor in the previous gubernatorial election. Signatures must be submitted 90 days after the initiative is cleared for circulation by the secretary of state. Measures are generally placed on the next general election ballot following signature verification, but the governor may call a special election or place the measure on the primary ballot. If petitioners are targeting a specific election, the secretary of state recommends that signatures be submitted eight months prior to the election. 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.

The requirements to get an initiated state statute certified for the 2024 ballot:

• Signatures: 92,263 valid signatures
• Deadline: Each initiative has its own deadline that is 90 days after it was approved to circulate.

The secretary of state verifies signatures and submits the totals and the vote totals that determine the requirement to the Oklahoma Supreme Court, which makes the final determination of sufficiency.

Details about this initiative

• October 27, 2023: Sponsors filed the initiative with the secretary of state.

• April 16, 2024: The initiative was cleared to begin gathering signatures.

• July 15, 2024: Proponents reported submitting about 180,000 signatures to the secretary of state's office.

• August 12, 2024:The secretary of state verified that proponents submitted 157,287 valid signatures.

• August 15, 2024: The Oklahoma Supreme Court concurred that enough valid signatures were submitted and ordered publication of the measure with a 10-day challenge period to begin following publication.

• September 5, 2024: The secretary of state's office certified to the state election board that the initiative had collected the required valid signatures and that no legal challenges were filed during the protest period.

• September 11, 2024: Governor Kevin Stitt set the election date for the measure as June 16, 2026, the state's gubernatorial primary election. The measure was not eligible to appear on the November 5, 2024 ballot because the deadline for the governor’s election proclamation must be issued and certified to the state election board at least 70 days (August 26 for the November 5 election) prior to an election in order for a state question to appear on a ballot.

State Chamber of Oklahoma v. Cobbs

Rule in favor of defendants on March 4, 2024

Court Information
Issue	Does the initiative unconstitutionally delegates legislative power to federal officials?
Court	Oklahoma State Supreme Court
Ruling
Ruling	The initiative is legally sufficient
Order(s)	Order: Oklahoma State Supreme Court (3/4/2024)
Participants
Plaintiff(s)	State Chamber of Oklahoma and the Oklahoma Farm Bureau
Defendant(s)	Kelsey Cobbs and Dustin Phelan, proponents of the initiative

On November 20, 2023, the Oklahoma State Chamber of Commerce and Oklahoma Farm Bureau filed a lawsuit in the Oklahoma Supreme Court seeking to disqualify the initiative because they claimed it was unconstitutional. They argued that the state's minimum wage is a state issue, not a federal issue, and as such the measure unconstitutionally tied the rate of Oklahoma's minimum wage to a measure determined by a federal agency (the Consumer Price Index-Wage is determined by the U.S. Department of Labor).

The Oklahoma Farm Bureau’s vice president of public policy, Steve Thompson, said, "Oklahoma Farm Bureau members understand the importance of fair compensation for honest work as farmers and ranchers rely on dependable, hardworking individuals to ensure their agricultural operations run smoothly and efficiently. State Question 832 seeks to raise minimum compensation through national economic projections that are unrepresentative of Oklahoma’s economy, and these burdensome government mandates will only intensify the inflationary pressures Oklahomans are already facing."

On March 4, 2024, the state supreme court ruled in favor of the defendants and stated that the initiative was legally sufficient. It declared that proponents could begin gathering signatures in support of the measure.

How to cast a vote

See also: Voting in Oklahoma

See below to learn more about current voter registration rules, identification requirements, and poll times in Oklahoma.

How to vote in Oklahoma

Poll times

In Oklahoma, all polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Central Time. Anyone in line when the polls close must be allowed to vote.

Registration

Check your voter registration status here.

To vote in Oklahoma, one must be at least 18 years old, a United States citizen, and a resident of Oklahoma.

The deadline for registration is 25 days prior to the election.

“	Fill out a Voter Registration Application using the OK Voter Portal "wizard." (You must print, sign, and mail or hand deliver the application to your County Election Board to complete the process.) Download a Voter Registration Application from the State Election Board website. Applications are also available at your County Election Board, most tag agencies, libraries, and post offices. Applications must be mailed or hand delivered to your County Election Board to complete the process. Register at your County Election Board office. Register at your local tag agency when you apply for, update, or renew your Driver License or State ID. Submitted applications will be mailed to the State Election Board by the agent at no cost. Register with select public assistance agencies when you apply for, update, or renew services. Submitted applications will be mailed to the State Election Board by the agent at no cost.	”
—Oklahoma State Election Board

Once an applicant has been successfully registered, the county election board will mail him or her a voter identification card.

Automatic registration

See also: Automatic voter registration

Oklahoma does not practice automatic voter registration.

Online registration

See also: Online voter registration

Oklahoma has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.

Same-day registration

See also: Same-day voter registration

Oklahoma does not allow same-day voter registration.

Residency requirements

To register to vote in Oklahoma, you must be a resident of the state. State law does not specify a length of time for which you must have been a resident to be eligible.

Verification of citizenship

See also: Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States

Oklahoma does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual must attest that they are a U.S. citizen when registering to vote. According to the state's voter registration application, a voter who submits false information commits a "felony punishable by not more than five years in prison, by a fine of not more than $50,000, or both."

All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment. Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. One state, Ohio, requires proof of citizenship only when registering to vote at a Bureau of Motor Vehicles facility. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.

Verifying your registration

The Oklahoma State Election Board allows residents to check their voter registration status online by visiting the OK Voter Portal.

Voter ID requirements

Oklahoma requires voters to present identification while voting. Generally, voters are required to present a photo ID, but there is an exception to this requirement.

Valid forms of identification include government-issued photo IDs and county election board voter identification cards (which do not include photographs).

“

A document used for proof of identity for voting must have been issued by the United States government, the State of Oklahoma, or a federally recognized tribal government. The law requires a document used for proof of identity for voting to contain the following information: The name of the person to whom it was issued A photograph of the person to whom it was issued An expiration date that is after the date of the election, unless the identification is valid indefinitely

”

To view Oklahoma law pertaining to voter identification, click here.

See also

2026 ballot measures

View other measures certified for the 2026 ballot across the U.S. and in Oklahoma.

• 2026 ballot measures
• Oklahoma 2026 ballot measures
• Oklahoma elections, 2026

Oklahoma ballot measures

Explore Oklahoma's ballot measure history, including citizen-initiated ballot measures.

• List of Oklahoma ballot measures
• Oklahoma Historical Ballot Measures Factbook
• Minimum wage laws ballot measures
• Oklahoma State Legislature

Initiative process

Understand how measures are placed on the ballot and the rules that apply.

• Laws governing the initiative process in Oklahoma
• Initiated state statute
• Oklahoma Constitution

External links

• State Question 832 information and full text
• Oklahoma Secretary of State: State Questions

Footnotes

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