Oklahoma State Question 798, Governor And Lieutenant Governor Joint Ticket Amendment (2018)

Oklahoma State Question 798
Election date November 6, 2018
Topic Elections and campaigns
Status d Defeated
Type Constitutional amendment	Origin State legislature
List of Oklahoma measuresOklahoma State Question 788 - JuneOklahoma State Question 793Oklahoma State Question 794Oklahoma State Question 798Oklahoma State Question 800Oklahoma State Question 801Submit

The Oklahoma Governor and Lieutenant Governor Joint Ticket Amendment, State Question 798, was on the ballot in Oklahoma as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment on November 6, 2018. The measure was defeated.

Election results[edit]

Results are officially certified.

Source

Overview[edit]

Measure design[edit]

State Question 798 would have amended the state constitution to provide for the governor and lieutenant governor to be elected together on one ticket starting in 2026.^[1] As of 2018, the governor and lieutenant governor were elected on separate ballots. Requiring the governor and lieutenant governor to run on the same ticket would have prevented them from being from different parties.^[2][3]

How were lieutenant governors elected in other states?[edit]

In 26 states, the lieutenant governor was selected on a ticket with the governor as of 2018, meaning that lieutenant gubernatorial candidates served as running mates to gubernatorial candidates, with the winning gubernatorial candidate's running mate becoming lieutenant governor. In 18 of those 26 states, candidates for governor picked their own running mates in a similar fashion to presidential candidates. In 8 of those 26 states, there were separate primaries for governor and lieutenant governor, with the winning candidate in each primary appearing on the general election ticket. In 17 states, the lieutenant governor was elected separately from the governor.

As of 2018, what did the lieutenant governor do?[edit]

As of 2018, the lieutenant governor was the first in line to become the new Governor of Oklahoma upon the death, resignation or removal of the governor. The lieutenant governor also served as the president of the Oklahoma State Senate, presiding over joint sessions of the state Legislature, and may cast the tie-breaking votes in the Senate. The lieutenant governor presided over, appoints a designee, or was a member of 10 state boards and commissions. The lieutenant governor had such other responsibilities and duties as the governor assigned.^[4]

Text of measure[edit]

Ballot title[edit]

The ballot title for this amendment is below:^[1]

Constitutional changes[edit]

See also: Article VI, Oklahoma Constitution

State Question 798 would have added a new subsection to section 3 of Article VI of the state constitution. The following underlined section of text would have been added:^[1]

Readability score[edit]

See also: Ballot measure readability scores, 2018

Support[edit]

Rep. Mark Lepak (R) and Sen. Adam Pugh (R) sponsored this amendment.^[3]

Arguments[edit]

Vice President for Political Affairs at the State Chamber of Oklahoma, Cordon DeKock, said, “Partnering the Governor and Lieutenant Governor is a common-sense move that will ensure we have a leadership team with a unified vision. Aligning these positions will allow our officials to coordinate to provide more robust oversight of executive agencies and to accomplish other goals for the state.”^[6]

Opposition[edit]

Ballotpedia did not identify committees, organizations, or individuals opposing the ballot initiative.

Media editorials[edit]

See also: 2018 ballot measure media endorsements

Support[edit]

• Tulsa World said: "We endorse State Question 798, which would provide for the governor and lieutenant governor to run on a single ticket starting in 2026. Oklahoma’s current system of independently electing lieutenant governors hasn’t produced a stellar list of leaders; but it has, at times, produced needless and counterproductive friction between the state’s two top executives. A single, unified leadership seems reasonable."^[7]
• The Enid News & Eagle said: "We realize merging two tickets eliminates an option for voters, but we believe 798 would help more than it could hurt. This concept works at the federal level. The practical measure requires the Legislature to establish procedures for the joint nomination and election by the 2026 election cycle, so we figure lawmakers should have plenty of time to iron that out."^[8]

Opposition[edit]

Ballotpedia did not identify any media editorials opposing State Question 798.

Campaign finance[edit]

See also: Campaign finance requirements for Oklahoma ballot measures

One committee, SQ 798 for Accountable Leadership, was registered in support of State Question 798. The support committee had reported $100 in contributions, contributed by the State Chamber of Oklahoma, and $25,078 in expenditures. Ballotpedia did not identify any committees registered in opposition to State Question 798.^[9]

Support[edit]

Polls[edit]

See also: Ballotpedia's approach to covering polls

In a January 2018 SoonerPoll poll commissioned by the State Chamber of Oklahoma, voters were asked the following question:^[6]

Background[edit]

Lieutenant governors in the United States[edit]

See also: Lieutenant Governor (state executive office)

Selection process for lieutenant governors[edit]

In 26 states, the lieutenant governor is selected on a ticket with the governor, meaning that lieutenant gubernatorial candidates serve as running mates to gubernatorial candidates, with the winning gubernatorial candidate's running mate becoming lieutenant governor. In eight of these states, there are separate primaries for governor and lieutenant governor, with the winning candidate in each primary appearing on the general election ticket. In the remaining 18 states, gubernatorial candidates may pick their own running mates in a similar fashion to presidential candidates. In 17 states, the lieutenant governor is elected separately from the governor. In Tennessee and West Virginia, the title of lieutenant governor is given to the president of the state Senate.^[10]

• Lt. gov. nominated in separate primary and elected in separate general election (17): Alabama, Arkansas, California, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington
• Lt. gov. nominated in separate primary but runs on a single ticket with gubernatorial nominee in general election (8): Alaska, Connecticut, Hawaii, Massachusetts, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin
• Lt. gov. chosen by gubernatorial candidate before primary and runs on a single ticket with gubernatorial candidate in both the primary and general election (8): Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, Ohio, Utah
• Lt. gov. chosen by gubernatorial nominee after primary and runs on a single ticket with gubernatorial nominee in the general election (10): Colorado, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Nebraska, New Jersey, South Carolina, South Dakota
• Lt. gov. is a member of the legislature (2): Tennessee, West Virginia
• Lt. gov. office does not exist in state (5): Arizona, Maine, New Hampshire, Oregon, Wyoming

House Joint Resolution 1019[edit]

The Oklahoma State House defeated House Joint Resolution 1019 (HJR 1019) in 2015 which would have called for the governor and lieutenant governor to be elected jointly rather than separately. HJR 1019 was sponsored by Rep. Gary Banz (R-101) and Sen. Ron Justice (R-23). The measure failed in the House on March 4, 2015, with a vote 46-44. It would have needed a vote of 51 to pass. After a motion to reconsider, the measure passed in the House on March 9, 2015, in a vote of 52-44 but failed in the Senate on March 21, 2015, in a vote of 15-31.^[11][12]

Referred amendments on the ballot[edit]

From 1996 through 2016, the Oklahoma State Legislature referred 63 constitutional amendments to the ballot. Voters approved 52 and rejected 11 of the referred amendments. All but one of the amendments were referred to the ballot for elections during even-numbered election years. The average number of amendments appearing on even-year ballots was between five and six. The approval rate of referred amendments at the ballot box was 82.5 percent during the 20-year period from 1996 through 2016. The rejection rate was 17.5 percent. The following table contains data for referred amendments during even-numbered election years from 1996 through 2016:

Path to the ballot[edit]

See also: Amending the Oklahoma Constitution

To put a legislatively referred constitutional amendment before voters, a simple majority is required in both the Oklahoma State Senate and the Oklahoma House of Representatives.

State Question 798 was introduced by Sen. Adam Pugh (R) and Rep. Mark Lepak (R) as Senate Joint Resolution 66. It was approved by the state Senate on March 13, 2018, in a vote of 29-12, with seven excused. Four Republicans joined all eight Democrats in opposing the amendment in the Senate. On April 23, 2018, the state House approved the measure with amendments in a vote of 69 to 22 with 10 excused and one vacancy. On April 25, the state Senate concurred with the House amendments and approved the measure in a vote of 34 to 9 with 4 excused and one vacancy, certifying the measure for the ballot.^[3]

Vote in the Oklahoma State Senate April 25, 2018 Requirement: Simple majority vote of all members in each chamber Number of yes votes required: 24  a Yes No Not voting Total 34 9 4 Total percent 72.34% 19.14% 8.51% Democrat 1 7 0 Republican 33 2 4

Vote in the Oklahoma House of Representatives April 23, 2018 Requirement: Simple majority vote of all members in each chamber Number of yes votes required: 51  a Yes No Not voting Total 68 22 10 Total percent 68.00% 22.00% 10.00% Democrat 20 3 5 Republican 48 19 5

How to cast a vote[edit]

See also: Voting in Oklahoma

Poll times[edit]

In Oklahoma, all polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Central Time. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.^[13]

Registration requirements[edit]

To vote in Oklahoma, one must be at least 18 years old, a United States citizen, and a resident of Oklahoma.^[14] The deadline for registration is 25 days prior to the election.

Once an applicant has been successfully registered, the county election board will mail him or her a voter identification card.^[14]

Automatic registration[edit]

Oklahoma does not practice automatic voter registration.

Online registration[edit]

See also: Online voter registration

In April 2015, Oklahoma passed legislation authorizing an online voter registration system.^[15] As of November 2019, this system was not yet fully active; already-registered voters could update their information, while new voters could not register online. To check the status of online registration in Oklahoma, click here.

Same-day registration[edit]

Oklahoma does not allow same-day voter registration.

Residency requirements[edit]

To register to vote in Oklahoma, you must be a resident of the state.

Verification of citizenship[edit]

See also: Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States

Oklahoma does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration.

Verifying your registration[edit]

The Oklahoma State Election Board allows residents to check their voter registration status online by visiting this website.

Voter ID requirements[edit]

Oklahoma requires voters to present identification while voting.^[16]

Valid forms of identification include government-issued photo IDs and county election board voter identification cards (which do not include photographs).

Voters can present a document issued by the United States government, the State of Oklahoma, or a federally recognized tribal government. The document must include the following information:

• Name
• Photograph
• Expiration date that is after the date of the election

Background[edit]

See also: Oklahoma Voter Identification Measure, State Question 746 (2010)

On May 8, 2018, the Oklahoma Supreme Court issued its ruling in Gentges v. Oklahoma State Election Board, finding that Oklahoma's voter identification law did not violate the state constitution. The court's per curiam opinion said: "[The] Oklahoma Voter ID Act is based on the State's attempt to prevent voter fraud and the lack of evidence of in-person voter fraud in the state is not a barrier to reasonable preventative legislation. Requiring voters to show proof of identity serves to protect the integrity and reliability of the electoral process and prevent in-person voter fraud." The case came to the state supreme court on appeal from the Oklahoma County District Court, which had similarly upheld the constitutionality of the state's voter ID law. The original suit was brought by Delilah Gentges, who alleged that the voter ID law was "unconstitutional as an interference with the free right to suffrage and equivalent to a poll tax."^[17]

As of April 2021, 35 states enforced (or were scheduled to begin enforcing) voter identification requirements. A total of 21 states required voters to present photo identification at the polls; the remainder accepted other forms of identification. Valid forms of identification differ by state. Commonly accepted forms of ID include driver's licenses, state-issued identification cards, and military identification cards.^[18][19]

See also[edit]

2018 measures 2018 ballot measures Elections and campaigns on the ballot 2018 legislative sessions

Oklahoma Oklahoma ballot measures Oklahoma ballot measure laws

News and analysis Ballot measure lawsuits Ballot measure readability Ballot measure polls

External links[edit]

• Senate Joint Resolution 66

Footnotes[edit]

	v • e State of Oklahoma Oklahoma City (capital)
Elections	What's on my ballot? | Elections in 2021 | How to vote | How to run for office | Ballot measures
Government	Who represents me? | U.S. President | U.S. Congress | Federal courts | State executives | State legislature | State and local courts | Counties | Cities | School districts | Public policy