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HJR1019 HFLR Page 1
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES - FLOOR VERSION
STATE OF OKLAHOMA
2nd Session of the 60th Legislature (2026)
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
FOR
HOUSE JOINT
RESOLUTION NO. 1019 By: Roberts of the House
and
Bergstrom of the Senate
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
A Joint Resolution directing the Secretary of State
to refer to the people for their approval or
rejection a proposed amendment to the Constitution of
the State of Oklahoma by adding a new Section 8 to
Article III; imposing requirements with respect to
elections; requiring general election races to have
certain characteristics; authorizing enabling
legislation; providing ballot title; providing for
noncodification; and directing filing.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND THE SENATE OF THE
1ST SESSION OF THE 60TH OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE:
SECTION 1. A new section of law not to be codified in the
Oklahoma Statutes or in the Constitution reads as follows:
This initiative shall be known and may be cited as the "Ensure
each general election race for federal, state, and county officers
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has representation from every recognized political party that had a
candidate file for the race (EQUAL REPRESENTATION) Initiative".
SECTION 2. The Secretary of State shall refer to the people for
their approval or rejection, as and in the manner provided by law,
the following proposed amendment to the Constitution of the State of
Oklahoma by adding a new Section 8 to Article III thereof, to read
as follows:
A. In all elections for federal, state, and county officers,
except for judicial branch officers, the following shall be
required:
1. Each political party recognized by the laws of this state
shall have the opportunity to nominate a candidate for the General
Election for federal, state, and county officers in the manner
provided by law. The candidate must have filed during the timeframe
designated by Oklahoma law and become the political party's nominee
by winning the party's primary outright or by winning the party's
runoff, or by winning as an unopposed candidate in the manner
provided by law.
2. Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the
authority of the Legislature to enact a mandatory primary system as
provided in Section 3 of Article III of this Constitution.
B. 1. This section shall remain in effect unless and until it
is repealed by a vote of the people by initiative or referendum as
provided in this Constitution.
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2. An initiative or referendum to repeal this section shall
contain no subject other than the repeal of this section.
C. The Legislature shall have the authority to implement this
section with appropriate legislation. The implementation shall be
completed in the first legislative session following passage of the
Constitutional amendment.
SECTION 3. The Ballot Title for the proposed Constitutional
amendment as set forth in SECTION 2 of this resolution shall be in
the following form:
BALLOT TITLE
Legislative Referendum No. ____ State Question No. ____
THE GIST OF THE PROPOSITION IS AS FOLLOWS:
This measure would amend the Oklahoma Constitution. It would
add a new Section 8 to Article 3. If the measure passes,
elections for federal, state, and county officers would have to
be conducted in a specific manner. Each general election race
shall include a candidate from every political party recognized
under Oklahoma law and had a candidate run for the race. The
candidate must have filed during the timeframe designated by
Oklahoma law and become the political party's nominee by winning
the party's primary outright or by winning the party's runoff in
the manner provided by law. Nothing about this measure would
amend, modify, or limit the ability of the Legislature to
provide for a system of primary elections. The provisions of
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this section would remain the law unless pursuant to an
amendment to the Constitution by means of an initiative petition
or a measure referred to a vote of the people by the
Legislature. An initiative petition or a referendum measure
could only contain a provision to repeal this section and could
not contain an amendment to this section. The Legislature would
have the ability to enact laws in order to implement the
provisions of this section.
SHALL THE PROPOSAL BE APPROVED?
FOR THE PROPOSAL — YES _____________
AGAINST THE PROPOSAL — NO _____________
SECTION 4. The Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives,
immediately after the passage of this act, shall prepare and file
one copy thereof, including the Ballot Title set forth in SECTION 3
hereof, with the Secretary of State and one copy with the Attorney
General.
COMMITTEE REPORT BY: COMMITTEE ON RULES, dated 03/09/2026 - DO PASS,
As Amended and Coauthored.