Two proposed amendments to the Oklahoma Constitution will appear on the November 3, 2026, General Election ballot.All Oklahoma voters, regardless of political affiliation, can vote on both questions. Below are the questions as they will appear on the ballot, followed by summaries prepared by the Oklahoma Press Association. A “YES” vote is a vote in favor of a measure/ proposal; a “NO” vote is a vote against the measure/ proposal.
This measure amends article 7-B, section 3 of the Oklahoma Constitution, changing the Judicial NominatingCommission’s structure. Currently appointments are based on congressional districts as constituted in 1967. If approved, appointments to the fifteen-member Commission will be as follows: 1) Governor appoints six members, including one from each congressional district as of the time of their appointment; 2) the Oklahoma Bar Association appoints six members, including one from each congressional district as of the date of selection; and 3) no less than eight members select three at-large members. The measure will permit any number of the commissioners to be licensed attorneys in Oklahoma or another state. The prohibition against immediate family members from practicing law will be removed. The measure changes terms so that at-large commissioners would serve a two-year term, and all other commissioners would serve a six-year term.Additionally, it removes restrictions on political party membership for members appointed by the Governor and at-large members.Themeasurealso permits a commissioner to succeed himself or herself. Vacancies will be filled in the same manner as a commissioner is appointed or selected for the remainder of the relevant term. This measure will not have a fiscal impact.
SHALLTHE PROPOSAL BE APPROVED?
FOR THE PROPOSAL – YES AGAINST THE PROPOSAL – NO
SUMMARY: State Question 845 changes the rules on selecting the 15-member Judicial Nominating Commission (JNC), responsible for helping select judicial candidates inOklahoma.Thecommission nominates candidates for the Supreme Court of Oklahoma, Court of Criminal Appeals and Court of Civil Appeals. It can provide candidates in other judicial vacancies created outside election cycles. Currently, appointments are based on congressional districts constituted in 1967. Gubernatorial and at-large appointees to the commission can’t be attorneys or have an immediate family member who is an attorney. There are also restrictions on the number of appointees from one political party and the number of terms served. If approved, State Question 845 would update appointments to current congressional districts, remove restrictions on JNC members being from different political parties, remove restrictions on appointing attorneys or people related to attorneys, andallowmemberstoserve up to 12 years on the commission. Proponents say this state question allows more attorneys to serve on the commission and gives those with institutional knowledge more years to serve. Opponents point to the likelihood of partisanship onthecommissionthat could result in appointing more judges of a particular political party. The commission system was created in 1967 by a vote of the people to decrease the number of conflicts of interest during the process of selecting judges and prevent judicial corruption. This measure has no fiscal impact on the state.
This measure amends article 10, sections 8B and 8C of the Oklahoma Constitution. Currently, section 8B limits annual growth in fair cash value to 5% for most real property or 3% for homesteads and agricultural land. If approved, the measurewouldlimitannual growth in fair cash value for tax year 2027 and after to 4%formostrealpropertyor 1.75% for homesteads and agricultural land. Currently, section 8C prohibits any increase in fair cash value of homestead property for persons age sixty-five (65) orolderwhoseincomedoes not exceed certain limits, sometimes referred to as the “senior freeze.” Instead of prohibiting any increase in fair cash value for these homesteads,therewouldbe an annual limit of 1.75%. The measure eliminates the income cap on gross household income to qualify for the senior freeze. If approved, the annual limit on an increase in fair cash value would be tied to how much gross household income the homestead owner had in the preceding year. If a homeowner’s gross household income from the previous year was at or below the median income for their county or area (as determined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s estimated median income amount for the county or metropolitan statistical area), a homeowner’s homestead fair cash value cannot be increased. If the income amount was in excess of certain thresholds, the limit on increases in fair cash value for homesteads owned by persons age 65 or older could be 0.35% (income over 100% up to 120%); 0.7% (income over 120% up to 140%); 1.05% (income over 140% up to 160%); 1.4% (income over 160% up to 180%); or 1.75% (income over 180%). If passed, this measurewouldhaveafiscal impact on the state, but the exact impact is unknown.
SHALLTHE PROPOSAL BE APPROVED?
FOR THE PROPOSAL – YES AGAINST THE PROPOSAL – NO
SUMMARY: State Question 847 changes how property taxes would be calculated by placing new limits on how much a property’s assessed value can increase each year. If approved, the state question would reduce the assessment cap for homesteadexempt and agricultural property from 3 to 1.75 percent. Commercial property would increase from 5 to 4 percent. Opponents say reductions would slow the future growth of revenue used to pay for projects created by public school districts and local governments. Proponents say the goal is to help struggling Oklahomans by lowering the property taxes they pay. If approved, the annual limit on an increase would be tied to how much grosshouseholdincomethe homestead owner had in the preceding year. Senior homeowners enrolled in the senior property freeze would not be affected if this measure passes. However, seniors who make above thegrosshouseholdincome threshold would be subject to a tiered assessment cap from .35 percent to 1.75 percent. If passed, this measurewouldhaveafiscal impact on the state, but the exact impact is unknown.
VOTE NOVEMBER 3 For more information about State Questions, see the Oklahoma State Election Board website at https://oklahoma.gov/ elections/elections-results/ state-question-info. html or the Oklahoma Secretary of State website at https://www.sos.ok.gov/ gov/default.aspx