Two state questions on Tuesday’s ballot propose changes to the Oklahoma Constitution.

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

In Focus – How Oklahoma ensures election integrity despite voter skepticism

Sample ballots for the 2024 election are now available online.

With all eyes on the presidential election, here’s a briefing on state issues in Oklahoma this fall.

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

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

Voters will decide on the change on November 5, 2024.

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

Below is what the state question will be on the November ballot.

Ballot title for State Question 833

This action adds a new section, Section 9E, to Article 10 of the Oklahoma Constitution. Section 9E allows for the creation of public infrastructure districts to provide support, organization, operation and maintenance of services. In order to create such a district, those in favor of creating a district must submit an application to the municipality. The petition must contain the signatures of one hundred percent of all property owners located within the proposed district boundaries. The municipality has the right to limit the district’s powers before the district’s approval. Once approved, the district will be governed by a board of trustees.

Through the Board of Directors, the District may issue bonds to finance all or a portion of all public improvements carried out by and for the Public Infrastructure District. The District shall be limited to issuing bonds for such improvements not to exceed ten (10) mills. To repay the bonds, the district, through its board of trustees, will levy and assess a special tax on all properties that benefit from improvements in the district. Section 9E also authorizes the Legislature to make laws necessary to implement 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.

Here is the ballot title for State Question 834.

This action amends Section 1 of Article 3 of the Oklahoma Constitution. It clarifies that only United States citizens are eligible to vote in this state.

This is what the Oklahoma Constitution currently reads:

“SECTION III-1. Qualifications of voters. Subject to such exceptions as the legislature may provide, all citizens of the United States over the age of eighteen (18) years, who are bona fide residents of this State, are qualified voters of this State.”

Proponents of State Question 834 point out that America’s ongoing border crisis poses a potential threat to elections through the rise of non-citizen voters. Others say it will prevent future reinterpretations of the Constitution that could allow non-citizens to register as voters, something they cannot currently do.

Opponents of the state question consider it a “political agent” or a “political game”.