Oklahoma State Question 531, Replace Constitution Article III Suffrage Provisions Amendment (1978)

Oklahoma State Question 531
Election date November 7, 1978
Topic Election administration and governance and Military service policy
Status Approved
Type Legislatively referred constitutional amendment	Origin State legislature

Oklahoma State Question 531 was on the ballot as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment in Oklahoma on November 7, 1978. It was approved.

A "yes" vote supported repealing and replacing Article III of the Oklahoma Constitution, including: setting voter qualifications as U.S. citizenship, being at least 18 years old, and being a resident of the state; eliminating specific residency requirements for members of the U.S. military; requiring the legislature to establish a State Election Board to oversee elections; requiring the legislature to allow citizens to petition to place independent candidates on the ballot; and eliminating a provision requiring the legislature to provide for the election of U.S. Senators under certain conditions.

A "no" vote opposed repealing and replacing Article III of the Oklahoma Constitution, thereby maintaining existing voter qualifications, election procedures, and related provisions.

Election results

Oklahoma State Question 531
Result		Votes	Percentage
Yes		351,843	54.17%
No		297,715	45.83%

Results are officially certified.

Source

Text of measure

Ballot title

The ballot title for State Question 531 was as follows:

“

Shall a constitutional amendment amending Oklahoma Constitution by repealing Article III thereof, establishing new Article III, reducing qualifications of elector to being United States citizen, over age of eighteen (18), who is bona fide resident of state; eliminating certain conditions for residency of members of United States Army or Navy; requiring Legislature to create State Election Board charged with certain duties; providing mandatory primary system; Legislature to provide for elector registration; eliminating certification of nominees for office of Presidential Elector; requiring Legislature to provide that citizens may petition place on ballot independent, nonpartisan candidates for office, including office of Presidential Electors maintaining free and equal election and elector's privilege from arrest; and eliminating requirement that under certain conditions Legislature must provide for election of United States Senators as for election of elective officers be approved by the people?

”

Path to the ballot

See also: Amending the Oklahoma Constitution

A simple majority vote is required during one legislative session for the Oklahoma State Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 51 votes in the Oklahoma House of Representatives and 24 votes in the Oklahoma State Senate, assuming no vacancies. Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.

See also

1978 Measures

• 1978 Measures
• Election administration and governance on the ballot
• Military service policy on the ballot
• Residency voting requirements on the ballot
• Voting age policy on the ballot
• 1978 legislative sessions

Oklahoma

• Oklahoma ballot measures
• Oklahoma ballot measure laws

News and analysis

• Ballot measure lawsuits
• Ballot measure readability
• Ballot measure polls

External links

• Oklahoma State Questions