Oklahoma Voters To Decide On State Questions 833 and 834 In November

Two state questions on the November 2024 ballot propose amendments to the Oklahoma Constitution.

State Question 833 deals with public infrastructure districts, while State Question 834 addresses voter eligibility.

Sample ballots for the 2024 election are now available online.

With all eyes on the presidential election, here is a briefing on the state questions in Oklahoma this fall.

What Is State Question 833 In Oklahoma?

State Question 833 would amend the Oklahoma Constitution to allow municipalities — towns and cities — to create public infrastructure districts (PIDs). If approved, these districts would help finance infrastructure improvements, including roads, sidewalks, parks, and water and sewage systems.

PIDs allow private property owners or developers to cover the cost of public infrastructure projects that benefit their area, rather than burdening the broader tax base. The measure passed the Oklahoma Senate in March with a 38-7 vote and cleared the House with a 66-27 vote.

Voters will decide on the amendment on Nov. 5, 2024.

In short, a PID in Oklahoma allows for private property owners or developers to pay for public infrastructure projects that directly benefit their area, without burdening the broader tax base.

Below is how the State Question will read on the November ballot.

Ballot Title for 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.

What Is State Question 834?

State Question 8354 is a proposed amendment to the state constitution that would clarify that only citizens of the United States are eligible to vote in elections.

Here is the Ballot Title for State Question 834.

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.

Here is how the Oklahoma Constitution currently reads:

"SECTION III-1. Qualifications of electors. Subject to such exceptions as the Legislature may prescribe, all citizens of the United States, over the age of eighteen (18) years, who are bona fide residents of this state, are qualified electors of this state."

Proponents of State Question 834 point to the ongoing border crisis in America as a potential threat to elections by the rise of noncitizen voters. Others say it will prevent against any future reinterpretations of the Constitution that might allow noncitizens to register to vote, which they currently cannot.

Those opposing the state question believe it is a "political operative" or "political game."