The Every Vote Counts Initiative
Every Vote Counts is a statewide ballot initiative to eliminate the straight-party voting option on Oklahoma general election ballots. Voters would mark each partisan contest individually, the same way they already mark state questions and nonpartisan races.
Statutory initiative · By and paid for by Okies First PAC
Four things this initiative changes — and doesn't.
Removes the straight-party voting option from general election ballots.
Requires a valid marking next to the name of each candidate a voter intends to support.
Does not change how nonpartisan races, judicial retention, or state questions are marked.
Does not prevent voters from supporting every candidate of one party — it simply requires them to mark each one.
Eliminating Straight-Party Voting on General Election Ballots
This measure amends Oklahoma law regarding how voters mark ballots in general elections. It eliminates the straight-party voting option, party circle, party oval, or any similar device that allows a voter to cast a single vote for all candidates of one political party. Voters must mark the ballot next to the name of each individual candidate they intend to support. Failure to mark any contest does not invalidate votes properly cast in other contests.
The measure does not affect primary elections, nonpartisan contests, judicial retention questions, or state questions. A valid marking is required for each candidate or office the voter intends to support. No marking of a political party shall be counted as a vote for any candidate.
The Secretary of the State Election Board shall update voting system programming, ballot design, and voter instructions to implement these changes. This measure has no fiscal impact on the state.
Text as proposed by Okies First PAC
If approved by voters
The change would take effect for all elections held on or after January 1 of the calendar year following approval.
- Petition type
- Statutory initiative
- Signatures required
- 92,263 valid
Be ready when signatures open.
Signature collection happens in person, on paper, across Oklahoma. Join the email list and we'll send the dates and locations near you.