Two questions will appear on the November 5, 2024, General Election Ballot. Both were referred to a vote of the people by the Oklahoma Legislature.
The questions are reprinted here as they will appear on the ballot followed by a brief summary prepared by the Oklahoma Press Association.
Permits creation of public infrastructure districts.
LEGISLATIVE REFERENDUM 376 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
SUMMARY: State Question 833 adds a new section 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. The districts could only be formed by petitioning the municipality and requires approval of 100 percent of the surface property owners in the specified area. After approval from the municipality, the districts could then issue bonds to pay for all or part of the public improvements. The districts can impose a property tax not to exceed 10 mills on the real property within the district for repayment of the bonds. The sponsoring municipality can impose limitations of the district’s powers. Once it is approved, the district is governed by a board of trustees. Assessments are placed on properties and are in addition to all other levies. The principal author of the legislation in the Oklahoma House of Representatives said the measure would allow improvements to land such as sewer or water or electricity in unserved areas and sees it benefiting areas annexed by municipalities that are underserved by roads or utilities. Petitioners would first have to get permission from that sponsoring municipality to issue bonds and levy the assessment only on properties that benefited from the improvements. Unlike a Tax Increment Financing District, special districts enabled by SQ 833 continue to collect and remit property taxes for schools, libraries, fire districts and other taxing entities. The revenue generated is on top of existing levies.
STATE QUESTION 834
Clarifies that only U.S. citizens are qualified to vote in Oklahoma elections.
LEGISLATIVE REFERENDUM 376 STATE QUESTION 833
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
SUMMARY: State Question 834, referred to voters by the legislature this past Spring, amends Section 1 of the Oklahoma Constitution to clarify that only United States citizens are qualified to vote in Oklahoma elections. Proponents of the change claim, without citing specific cases, that the U.S. faces an unprecedented threat from non-citizens voting in elections. Opponents claim the vote is unnecessary because Oklahoma law already makes it a felony for non-citizens to register to vote. Proponents say the Constitutional change is needed in case a court challenge prevails that allows non-citizens to cast ballots in state elections.
Six other states have similar measures on this year’s General Election Ballot. They are Wisconsin, North Carolina, South Carolina, Iowa, Kentucky and Missouri. Since 2018, North Dakota, Colorado, Alabama, Florida, Ohio and Louisiana have made constitutional changes specifically banning non-citizens from voting.
The U.S. Congress voted in 1996 to ban non-citizen voting in federal elections such as for the U.S. House, Senate and Presidency. However, federal lawmakers did not address state or local elections. Noncitizens in the District of Columbia and some California, Maryland and Vermont municipalities are allowed to vote in some or all local elections.