This article originally appeared as a Gavel to Gavel guest column in the Journal Record on Mar. 19, 2025.
Natalie M. McMahan
Oklahoma’s legislature is not quite halfway through session, but key deadlines have narrowed lawmakers’ focus. Before session started, lawmakers filed 79 bills related to elections. Only 20 elections-related bills passed out of committee and may head to the floor for a vote. While bills addressing voter identification requirements may be expected, some noteworthy elections issues are teed up for consideration:
House Bill 1515 would require persons who choose to vote by absentee ballot to provide a statement explaining why they cannot vote early in-person or on election day. A failure to provide the statement would result in denial of the absentee ballot application.
Senate Bill 1086 would require the State Election Board to cancel the voter registration of any person identified as a noncitizen as a result of the State Election Board’s comparison of Oklahoma’s list of registered voters with the database of any federal, state or local entity that maintains information regarding citizenship of persons in Oklahoma.
Senate Bill 147 would require the Secretary of the State Election Board to direct officials in each county to conduct a post-election audit of the election results for any general, primary runoff primary, and presidential primary election.
Senate Bill 656 would change the nomination process for State Election Board members. Currently, the Governor appoints each member and the Senate approves. If passed, this bill would allow one member to be appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and one member by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, while the other three remain appointed by the Governor, subject to the advice and consent of the Senate. This bill is authored by the Speaker and the President Pro Tempore.
Senate Bill 894 seeks to prohibit and penalize creation or original distribution of “synthetic media” that includes “deepfakes” of a candidate or political party within 90 days of an election.
Senate Bill 990 would allow the House and Senate to initiate a recall election procedure for a statewide elected official. Though the bill was passed out of committee, the title was stricken to allow further revision. This bill appears to present an alternative removal process to impeachment.
Another elections-adjacent bill, Senate Bill 1027, would require any person circulating a petition to place an issue on the ballot (the initiative petition process) to be a registered voter in Oklahoma and display whether they are paid to circulate the petition. The measure also limits the number of signatures that may be obtained from voters in a particular county.
The deadline for bills to be heard in their originating chamber is March 27, 2025, and this session is slated to conclude on May 30, 2025.
About the author:
Natalie M. McMahan is a litigation attorney whose practice focuses on representing insurance companies in coverage and liability disputes, including extracontractual defense. She also represents financial institutions in commercial litigation and defends employers in wage, labor, contract, and discrimination lawsuits. Natalie has represented clients through administrative proceedings and all stages of litigation in state and federal courts.
CONTACT: nmmcmahan@phillipsmurrah.com | 405.552.2437.
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