An act relating to conduct of elections, the official text

1                           STATE OF OKLAHOMA

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2                  1st Session of the 60th Legislature (2025)

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3 SENATE BILL 386                  By: Jett

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6                           AS INTRODUCED

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7   An Act relating to conduct of elections; prohibiting

7   state or political subdivision from enacting certain

8   voting method; declaring certain ordinances void;

8   providing exceptions; providing for enforcement;

9   authorizing civil action for certain violations;

9   authorizing award of certain costs and fees;

10  providing for codification; and declaring an

10  emergency.

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1 3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:

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14  SECTION 1.     NEW LAW         A new section of law to be codified

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1 5 in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 7-140 of Title 26, unless there

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1 6 is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:

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17  A. The state or a political subdivision shall not enact or

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1 8 adopt any voting method that:

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19  1. Allows qualified electors to rank candidates for any

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2 0 federal, state, or local office in order of preference; and

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21  2. Tabulates ballots cast in multiple rounds following the

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2 2 elimination of a candidate until a single candidate attains a

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2 3 majority.

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    Req. No. 1577                                                Page 1
1   B. Any ordinance enacted or adopted by a county, municipality,

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2 school board, or other political subdivision that conflicts with the

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3 requirements of subsection A of this section shall be void.

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4   C. The prohibitions of this section shall not apply to the

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5 internal processes of a political party including, but not limited

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6 to, conventions, election of party officers, or other non-public

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7 procedures by the party.

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8   D. The Attorney General shall have the authority to enforce the

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9 provisions of this section.

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10  E. Any person aggrieved by a violation of this section may

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1 1 bring a civil action for declaratory or injunctive relief. An

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1 2 aggrieved person includes, but is not limited to, a candidate

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1 3 running for office, a voter, or an election official operating under

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1 4 a ranked choice election. The court may award court costs and

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1 5 reasonable attorney fees to the prevailing party.

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16  SECTION 2. It being immediately necessary for the preservation

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1 7 of the public peace, health or safety, an emergency is hereby

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1 8 declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and

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1 9 be in full force from and after its passage and approval.

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21  60-1-1577      TEK         1/14/2025 3:50:50 PM

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    Req. No. 1577                                              Page 2