Okla. Stat. » Title 34 — INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM
Oklahoma Statutes

Okla. Stat. tit. 34, § 3 (2026)

Petitions and signatures

✓ current as of July 2026
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A. Each initiative petition and each referendum petition shall be duplicated for the securing of signatures. The Secretary of State shall design a form, subject to change, for signatures that shall be used by proponents of initiatives or referendums when collecting signatures, and each sheet for signatures shall be attached to a copy of the petition. Each copy of the petition and sheets for signatures is hereinafter termed a pamphlet. On the outer page of each pamphlet shall be printed the word “Warning”, and underneath this in ten-point type the words, “It is a felony for anyone to sign an initiative or referendum petition with any name other than his or her own, or knowingly to sign his or her name more than once for the measure, or to sign such petition when he or she is not a legal voter of this state.” A statement of the gist of the proposition shall be printed on the top margin of each signature sheet and shall:

1. Explain in basic words, which can be easily found in dictionaries of general usage, the effect of the proposition; 2. Not contain any words which have a special meaning for a particular profession or trade not commonly known to the citizens of this state; 3. Not contain euphemisms, words, or phrases regarded in popular parlance as code words, or an apparent attempt to deceive voters; 4. Not reflect partiality in its composition or contain any argument for or against the measure; and 5. Indicate whether a proposed measure will have a fiscal impact on the state and if so, the potential source of funding including, but not limited to, federal funding or legislative appropriation which may require imposition of a new tax, increase of an existing tax, or elimination of existing services. B. A statement shall be printed under the gist of the proposition that provides notice that a copy of the petition and all signatures on such petition are public records subject to the Oklahoma Open Records Act. C. The Secretary of State shall affirm that any gist conforms with the requirements of this section. The Secretary may remove any gist that violates the requirements of this section and direct the proponents of the petition to submit a gist that complies with all the requirements of this section. R.L. 1910, § 3370. Amended by Laws 1961, p. 264, § 3, emerg. eff. May 17, 1961; Laws 1985, c. 288, § 1, emerg. eff. July 23, 1985; Laws 1992, c. 92, § 3, eff. Sept. 1, 1992; Laws 2020, c. 125, § 4, eff. Nov. 1, 2020; Laws 2025, c. 275, § 1, emerg. eff. May 23, 2025.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 23 cases (6 in the last 5 years), 1965–2024 · leading case: In Re Initiative Petition No. 347 State Question No. 639, 813 P.2d 1019 (Okla. 1991).
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In Re Initiative Petition No. 347 State Question No. 639, 813 P.2d 1019 (Okla. 1991). · cites it 4× “Title 34 O.S.Supp. 1985 § 3 sets out the requirements for the statement on the petition, and § 3 requires only a simple statement of the gist of the proposition.”
In Re Initiative Petition No. 362 State Question 669, 899 P.2d 1145 (Okla. 1995). · cites it 4× “Protestants would require too much of the gist of an initiative petition. The gist of a proposition, which is required by law to appear at the top of each signature page, need only contain "a simple statement of the gist of the proposition.”
In Re Initiative Petition No. 384, State Question No. 731, 2007 OK 48, 164 P.3d 125. · cites it 2× “Okla. Stat. tit. 34, § 3 (2001). Since the Legislature's creation of the gist requirement in 1985, this Court has discussed its nature in eight opinions.”
In Re: Initiative Petition No. 397, State Question No. 767, 2014 OK 23. · cites it 2× “§ 2, and thus part of the petition that is duplicated for securing signatures in 34 O.S. § 3. ¶66 Section 9(D)(1) clearly provides for filing the ballot title with the Secretary of State prior to collecting signatures.”
Oklahoma Indep. Petroleum Ass'n v. Potts, 2018 OK 24, 414 P.3d 351. · cites it 2× “11 34 O.S.2011 § 3. 12 Webster's New International Dictionary 1060 (2d ed.”
In Re Initiative Petition No. 363, State Question No. 672, 927 P.2d 558 (Okla. 1996). · cites it 2× “The pertinent terms of 34 O.S.Supp.1992 § 3 are: * * * A simple statement of the gist of the proposition shall be printed on the top margin of each signature sheet.”
In Re Initiative Petition No. 358, State Question No. 658, 870 P.2d 782 (Okla. 1994). · cites it 2× “NOTES [1] 34 O.S.Supp. 1993, §§ 3 and 8. [2] 34 O.S.”
In Re Initiative Petition No. 348, State Question No. 640, 820 P.2d 772 (Okla. 1992). · cites it 3× “SUFFICIENCY OF GIST AND BALLOT TITLE Protestants assert the Petition is invalid because it violates 34 O.S.Supp. 1990, §§ 3 & 9 in that neither the gist nor the ballot title explain the effect of the amendment.”
In Re Initiative Petition No. 360, 879 P.2d 810 (Okla. 1994). · cites it 2× “Protestants also claim the Petition before us is deceptive and misleading because they assert the gist statement required to be on each signature page of the Petition by 34 O.S.Supp. 1992, § 3, informed prospective signers that the gist of the proposition was to, "[l]imit terms…”
Ocpa Impact, Inc. v. Sheehan, 2016 OK 84, 377 P.3d 138. “Upon the hearing of such appeal, the court may correct or amend the ballot title before the court, or accept the substitute suggested, or may draft a new one which will conform to the provisions of Section 9 of this title.”
In Re Initiative Petition No. 341, State Question No. 627, 796 P.2d 267 (Okla. 1990). · cites it 2× “" Okla. Stat. tit. 34, § 3 (Supp. 1985). [44] Williamson v.”
Cmty. Gas & Serv. Co. v. Walbaum, 404 P.2d 1014 (Okla. 1965). · cites it 4× “Following submission of the briefs the referee recommended that the instant petition be declared invalid and ineffective on its face for want of compliance with the provisions of 34 O.S.1961, § 3, which require that the initiative petition contain on the outer page of each…”
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