Req. No. 8432 Page 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 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: Req. No. 8432 Page 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 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 This Section shall remain in effect unless and until it is repealed by a vote of the people by initiative or referendum as provided in this Constitution. 2.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. Req. No. 8432 Page 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 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 Req. No. 8432 Page 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 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