Oklahoma City, OK - On May 21, 2025, Republicans passed legislation along party lines that dramatically erodes the people’s right to petition. SB 1027 places arbitrary thresholds on how many signatures may be collected from a single county, intentionally limiting the feasibility, and increasing the cost, of citizen-led state questions and ballot initiatives.

Oklahoma Medicaid expansion, medical marijuana, term limits, campaign finance oversight, and limits on tax increases were all enacted by citizen-led ballot initiatives, which under these new rules, wouldn’t have been possible.

When the framers of the Oklahoma Constitution set out to write the most progressive constitution in the country, they included the right of the people to petition their government to amend the constitution, veto legislation, and give a direct voice to power. Republican Senator Bullard is telling us that instead of the power belonging to the people, the people are “ruled” by the state legislature. This isn’t who we are, Oklahoma.

“Republican legislators have sent a clear message: Oklahomans don’t deserve democracy. With this vote, they have declared that votes from the two largest metropolitan counties count less than those in the other 75 counties. This power grab is a prime example of how legislators get to the capitol and forget who they represent,” said Alicia Andrews, Chair of the Oklahoma Democratic Party.

Our Senate leaders also commented on SB 1027. Senate Minority Leader Julia Kirt stated, “SB 1027 aims to consolidate power among politicians and special interest groups while taking power away from Oklahoma voters to use the initiative petition process to make decisions for themselves at the ballot box. This is an issue that we saw Oklahomans across the political spectrum come together and stand up against. We hope that the Governor takes these veto requests seriously and joins us in protecting Oklahomans' right to the initiative petition.”

“Initiative petitions are how we saved our rural hospitals and enacted term limits on politicians,” says Sen. Carri Hicks. “We trust voters to make the decisions that they believe are best for them and this state. I do not support any effort to take power away from Oklahomans and give it to politicians."

The Oklahoma Democratic Party firmly believes in the concept of one person, one signature, one vote- and this legislation, which is on its way to the Governor’s desk, is a blatant violation of that principle, and an attack on democracy.

We urge all Oklahomans to call Governor Stitt and demand that he veto this legislation and end this attack on Oklahomans’ right to petition their government.

You can call his office at (405) 521-2342, and sign the petition here -> www.mobilize.us/okstatesenatedems