Oklahoma 2024 2024 Regular Session

Oklahoma House Bill HJR1048 Introduced / Bill

Filed 01/17/2024

                     
 
 
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STATE OF OKLAHOMA 
 
2nd Session of the 59th Legislature (2024) 
 
HOUSE JOINT 
RESOLUTION 1048 	By: Roberts 
 
 
 
 
AS INTRODUCED 
 
A Joint Resolution directing the Secretary of State 
to refer to the people for their approval or 
rejection a proposed amendme nt to the Constitution of 
the State of Oklahoma by adding a new Section 4A to 
Article III; imposing requirements with respect to 
elections; requiring votes to have certain 
characteristics; prohibiting votes from having other 
characteristics; requiring certain measures to be 
limited in content; authorizing enabling legislation; 
providing ballot title; and directing filing. 
 
 
 
 
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND THE SENATE OF THE 
2ND SESSION OF THE 59TH OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE: 
SECTION 1.  The Secretary of Sta te shall refer to the people for 
their approval or rejection, as and in the manner provided by law, 
the following proposed amendment to the Constitution of the State of 
Oklahoma by adding a new Section 4A to Article III thereof, to read 
as follows: 
A.  In all elections held in this state the follow ing shall be 
required:   
 
 
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1.  A candidate who receives the most votes at an election shall 
be certified the winner of that election in the manner prescribed by 
the Legislature;  
2.  Nothing in this section shall be c onstrued to limit the 
authority of the Legi slature to enact a mandatory prima ry system as 
provided in Section 3 of Article III of this Constitution. 
B. All elections held in this state shall be conducted in the 
following manner: 
1.  A voter shall vote for only one candidate for the same 
office; 
2.  A vote for one candidate shall not b e reallocated to another 
candidate for the same office; 
3.  One voter’s vote for a candidate for an office shall hold 
the same weight as other voters’ votes for a candidate f or the same 
office. 
C.  1.  This Section shall remain in effect unless and until it 
is repealed by a vote of the people by initiative or referendum as 
provided in this Constitution. 
2.  An initiative or referendum to repeal this section shall 
contain no subject other than the repeal of this section. 
D.  The Legislature shall have the aut hority to implement this 
section with appropriate legislation.   
 
 
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SECTION 2.  The Ballot Title for the proposed Constitutional 
amendment as set forth in SECTI ON 1 of this resolution shall be in 
the following form: 
BALLOT TITLE 
Legislative Referendum No. ____ State Question No. ____ 
THE GIST OF THE PROPOSITION IS AS FOLLOWS: 
This measure would amend the Oklahoma Constitution.  It would 
add new Section 4A to Article 3.  If the measure passes, 
elections would have to be conducted in a specific manner.  
Elections could only provide for a person to win the election 
for an office if that person received the highest number of 
votes case for the particular office.  Noth ing about this 
measure would amend or modify or limit the ability of the 
Legislature to provide for a system of primary elections.  It 
would require a voter to ca st only one vote for a person with 
respect to any public office.  Each vote cas t would be required 
to have the exact same w eight as any other vote case for the 
office. The provisions of this section would remain the law 
unless pursuant to an amendment to the Constitution by means of 
an initiative petition or a measure referred to a vote of the 
people by the Legislature.  An initiative petition or a 
referendum measure could only contain a provision to repeal this 
section and could not contain an amendment to this section.  The   
 
 
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Legislature would have the ability t o enact laws in order to 
implement the provisions of this section. 
SHALL THE PROPOSAL BE APPROVED? 
FOR THE PROPOSAL — YES _____________ 
AGAINST THE PROPOSAL — NO  _____________ 
SECTION 3.  The Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives, 
immediately after the passage of this r esolution, shall prepare and 
file one copy thereof, including the Ballot Title set forth in 
SECTION 2 hereof, with the Secretary of State and one copy with the 
Attorney General. 
 
59-2-8432 LRB 11/06/23