Oklahoma Senate approves new restrictions on initiative petitions

The Oklahoma Senate has passed Senate Bill 1027, which introduces new restrictions on initiative petitions aimed at increasing rural representation. The bill mandates that no more than 10% of signatures for an initiative can come from counties with populations over 400,000, specifically targeting Tulsa and Oklahoma counties, while limiting signatures from smaller counties to 4%. Proponents argue this change will ensure broader participation across the state, while critics, including Democratic lawmakers, contend it disenfranchises urban voters and undermines democratic principles. The bill also requires that anyone collecting signatures be a registered voter in Oklahoma and prohibits out-of-state funding for petition efforts. Supporters claim the measure will promote transparency and prevent campaigns from focusing solely on large population centers. The bill will now proceed to the state House for further consideration.