Oklahoma § 19-388 - Ballot Title - Authorization

§ 19-388. Ballot Title - Authorization

A. When a county of this state is authorized to submit a

proposition for approval by the registered voters of the respective

county, whether by special election or otherwise, that will require

a ballot title, it shall be the duty, in addition to any other

duties required by law, of the county commissioners submitting the

measure to prepare and file one copy of the measure with the

district attorney of the county.

B. The county commissioners submitting the measure shall also

submit a suggested ballot title which shall be filed on a separate

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 19. Counties and County Officers

sheet of paper and shall not be deemed part of the petition. The

suggested ballot title:

1. Shall not exceed two hundred words;

2. Shall explain in basic words, which can be easily found in

dictionaries of general usage, the effect of the proposition;

3. Shall be written on the eighth-grade reading comprehension

level;

4. Shall not contain any words which have a special meaning for

a particular profession or trade not commonly known to the citizens

of this state;

5. Shall not reflect partiality in its composition or contain

any argument for or against the measure;

6. In tax-related propositions, the proposition shall detail

all known direct and indirect increases and decreases affecting the

tax code;

7. In tax-related propositions, the proposition shall use the

word “increase” when an increase in a tax may depend on the passage

or failure of the proposition;

8. Shall contain language which clearly states that a "yes"

vote is a vote in favor of the proposition and a "no" vote is a vote

against the proposition; and

9. Shall not contain language whereby a "yes" vote is, in fact,

a vote against the proposition and a "no" vote is, in fact, a vote

in favor of the proposition.

C. The district attorney of the county for which a measure has

been proposed shall review the filing required by subsections A and

B of this section for legal correctness. Within five (5) days, the

district attorney shall notify, in writing, the county commissioners

whether or not the proposed ballot title complies with applicable

laws.

D. A proposition subject to the provisions of this section

shall be published as provided in Section 383 of Title 19 of the

Oklahoma Statutes.

Added by Laws 2009, c. 186, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2009.