OKLAHOMA CITY – By a vote of more than 2-to-1 the Oklahoma House of Representatives passed a measure recently that would change the percentage of voters required to propose an initiative or referendum petition, from statewide to every congressional district.
House Joint Resolution 1027 passed the House on a vote of 66-30. The proposal was endorsed by 65 Republicans and one Democrat, Rep. Matt Meredith of Tahlequah.
The resolution was opposed by 22 Democrats and eight Republicans: House Majority Floor Leader Jon Echols of Oklahoma City, Rep. Toni Hasenbeck of Elgin, Rep. Brad Boles of Marlow, Rep. Marcus McEntire of Duncan, Rep. Jeff Boatman of Tulsa, Rep. Derrel Fincher of Bartlesville, Rep. Robert Manger of Oklahoma City, and Rep. Judd Strom of Copan.
Next the measure will be transmitted to the 48-member Senate for consideration.
Under existing law, an initiative or referendum petition proposing a constitutional amendment or other change in state law must bear the signatures of a specific percentage of registered voters living in the state.
HJR 1027 would require backers of an initiative petition proposing a legislative measure to secure signatures from 8% of the legal voters in each of Oklahoma’s congressional districts, based upon the total number of votes cast for the Office of Governor last general election.
If proposing a constitutional amendment, an initiative petition would have to be signed by 15% of the legal voters in each congressional district in Oklahoma, based upon the total number of votes cast for the Office of Governor in the most recent general election.
A referendum can be proposed by the Legislature, but also by a petition that would have to contain the signatures of 5% of the legal voters of every congressional district in Oklahoma, based upon the total number of votes cast for the Office of Governor in the last general election.
HJR 1027 itself proposes an amendment to the state Constitution that would have to be approved by the majority of the voters at a statewide election.
Principal authors of the legislation are Rep. John Pfeiffer, R-Orlando, and Sen. Kim David, R-Porter.