Oklahoma Senate Bill SB1096

Oklahoma 2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/6/23
• Refer: 2/7/23

Caption

Voter registration; decreasing number of voters registered at same address needed to cause certain investigation. Effective date.

Impact

If enacted, SB1096 would obligate the State Election Board to query the voter registration database annually to identify addresses that meet this new threshold. Upon identifying such addresses, the Board would be required to notify the local county election boards, which in turn must alert the district attorney for an investigation into possible legal violations related to voter registration. This modification could potentially increase scrutiny on residential addresses that house numerous voters, thereby aiming to ensure stricter adherence to voting laws and discourage fraudulent registrations.

Summary

Senate Bill 1096 proposes an amendment to existing voter registration laws in Oklahoma by adjusting the threshold for investigations into residential addresses with a high concentration of registered voters. Specifically, the bill decreases the number of registered voters at a single residential address that would trigger an investigation by the State Election Board from ten to eight. This change aims to enhance the monitoring and integrity of the voter registration process, addressing concerns about potential voter fraud in situations where multiple individuals are registered at the same address.

Contention

The bill underscores a larger debate about election security versus accessibility. Proponents argue that reducing the threshold is a necessary step to uphold the integrity of the electoral process and prevent abuse of the voter registration system. However, critics have voiced concerns that such measures may disproportionately target communities where multiple individuals legitimately reside at the same address, such as in apartment complexes or group housing facilities, potentially leading to unwarranted investigations and intimidation in those communities. These complexities highlight the balance legislators must strike between protecting the electoral process and ensuring it remains accessible.