Will Oklahoma call a constitutional convention?

Article XXIV, Section 2, of the Oklahoma Constitution states (emphasis added):

No convention shall be called by the Legislature to propose alterations, revisions, or amendments to this Constitution, or to propose a new Constitution, unless the law providing for such convention shall first be approved by the people on a referendum vote at a regular or special election, and any amendments, alterations, revisions, or new Constitution, proposed by such convention, shall be submitted to the electors of the State at a general or special election and be approved by a majority of the electors voting thereon, before the same shall become effective: Provided, That the question of such proposed convention shall be submitted to the people at least once in every twenty years.

This language has not changed since the Constitution was approved in 1907. Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt has issued an executive order calling for a referendum on April 6, 2027, to ask the voters, for the first time since 1970, whether or not a Constitutional Convention should be called:

Oklahoma City (August 26, 2026) - Governor Stitt yesterday took action to comply with the Oklahoma Constitution and send to a vote of the people the question of whether the legislature shall call a constitutional convention, as required by Article XXIV, Section 2 of the Oklahoma Constitution. Article XXIV, Section 2 requires that the people of Oklahoma be given the opportunity at least once every twenty years to decide whether or not to move forward with a constitutional convention. The question was last presented to Oklahomans in 1970, depriving Oklahomans of this constitutional right. "The Oklahoma Constitution is clear. At least every 20 years, Oklahomans have the right to decide whether it's time to call a constitutional convention," said Governor Stitt. "It's been 56 years since the question was sent to the people. This action puts the question to the people and ensures Oklahomans finally get the opportunity their Constitution guarantees." The Executive Proclamation sets a special election for April 6, 2027, and was accompanied by Executive Order 2026-30, which instructs the Secretary of State to take any action necessary to submit the question to the people and creates the Oklahoma Constitutional Convention Commission. The Commission is tasked with studying the Oklahoma Constitution and other state constitutional conventions, then making recommendations about the procedures and rules that would govern a state constitutional convention, should the state question be approved. The Commission will also consider necessary safeguards and proposed legislation needed to implement a convention. The report will be due no later than December 31, 2026. "Oklahomans have the right to review our Constitution and determine whether it's time to consider changes," continued Gov. Stitt. "It is time to honor that right and give Oklahomans the choice our state founding fathers guaranteed to them." The executive proclamation setting the special election can be found here: https://www.sos.ok.gov/documents/filelog/98225.pdf [NOTE: There was a typo in the URL in the press release, which I have corrected.] The executive order creating the commission can be found here: https://www.sos.ok.gov/documents/executive/2203.pdf

Here is the question that would be put before the voters, as State Question 848:

Shall the Legislature call a Constitutional Convention which shall be authorized to propose alterations, revisions, or amendments to the Constitution, or to propose a new Constitution for the State of Oklahoma?

In his executive order, Gov. Stitt quotes Robert L. Williams, the first Chief Justice of Oklahoma and a delegate to the Oklahoma Constitutional Convention, who wrote in his commentary on the Oklahoma Constitution regarding Article XXIV, Section 2: "Being self-executing, it is the duty of the Secretary of State, without any additional legislation, to submit this question every 20 years to the electors of the state." Williams says, "This section was patterned after Oregon (1857) 17, 1 and 2, as amended," and also makes reference to "Md. (1867) 14, 2; Mich. (1850) 20, 2 [now in Article XII, Section 3]; N. Y. (1894) 14, 2 [now in Article XIX, Section 2]; Ohio (1851) 16, 3; S. C. (1895) 16, 3; and Utah (1895) 23, 2 and 3." Michigan, New York, Ohio, and South Carolina have a requirement to put the question of a constitutional convention before the voters at regular intervals. New York has held six constitutional conventions, with the 1938 convention producing a new constitution that was ratified by the voters, while the propositions submitted by the 1967 convention were rejected by the voters.
- September 10, 2026 at 08:49AM
Will Oklahoma call a constitutional convention?
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