Oklahoma voters are heading to the polls on November 5, 2024, to decide on two significant state questions that propose amendments to the Oklahoma Constitution. State Question 833 and State Question 834 address distinct issues that could impact the state’s infrastructure and voter eligibility.
State Question 833 focuses on the creation of public infrastructure districts (PIDs). If approved, this amendment would allow municipalities to establish PIDs, enabling private property owners or developers to finance and maintain public infrastructure projects such as roads, sidewalks, parks, and water and sewage systems. This measure aims to alleviate the burden on the broader tax base by allowing those who directly benefit from the infrastructure improvements to cover the costs. The proposal has already garnered support in the Oklahoma Senate with a 38-7 vote and in the House with a 66-27 vote.
The ballot title for State Question 833 outlines the process for creating these districts, which includes filing a petition with the municipality signed by 100% of the surface property owners within the proposed district’s boundaries. The municipality has the authority to impose limitations on the district’s powers before approval, and the district will be governed by a board of trustees that can issue bonds for public improvements, not exceeding 10 mills. Repayment of these bonds will be through special assessments on the benefiting properties.
State Question 834, on the other hand, seeks to clarify that only citizens of the United States are eligible to vote in Oklahoma elections. This proposed amendment to Section 1 of Article 3 of the Oklahoma Constitution aims to prevent any future reinterpretations that might allow noncitizens to register to vote. Proponents argue that this measure is necessary given the current border crisis and potential threats to election integrity, while opponents view it as a political maneuver.
These state questions are part of a broader electoral landscape in Oklahoma, where voters are also participating in the presidential election and congressional races. Oklahoma has historically voted Republican in presidential elections since 1968, and current polls indicate a similar trend this year.
In addition to these state questions, Oklahoma has seen a significant increase in voter registration, with over 2.4 million registered voters as of November 1, 2024. This marks the highest pre-election voter registration total since the state began tracking these statistics in 2000).
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