OSCN Found Document:Petition - Form - Signatures - Time for Filing
Title 11. Cities and Towns

Oklahoma Statutes Citationized
  Title 11. Cities and Towns
    Chapter 1 - Oklahoma Municipal Code
        Article Article XV - Initiative and Referendum - Municipal Questions
        Section 15-103 - Petition - Form - Signatures - Time for Filing
Cite as: 11 O.S. § 15-103 (OSCN 2026)


A. The form of the petition for either initiative or referendum in a municipality shall be substantially as provided in Sections 1 and 2 of Title 34 of the Oklahoma Statutes. A true copy of each measure proposed by initiative and referendum shall be filed with the clerk of the municipality before it is circulated and signed by the registered voters.

B. Every petition for either the initiative or referendum shall be signed by a number of the registered voters residing in the municipality equal to at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the total number of votes cast at the most recent preceding general municipal election or biennial town meeting if the municipality is subject to the Oklahoma Town Meeting Act. The signatures to each petition shall be verified in the manner provided by law.

C. Signed copies of an initiative petition shall be submitted to the clerk within ninety (90) days after the initial filing of the measure with the clerk. Signed copies of a petition invoking a referendum upon any ordinance or resolution shall be submitted to the clerk within sixty (60) days after the passage of the ordinance or resolution. Amendments to municipal charters may be proposed by an initiative petition, and signed copies of such petition shall be submitted to the clerk not less than sixty (60) days before the election at which the amendments are to be voted upon.

D. For the purposes of this section, "total number of votes cast" shall mean the sum of the votes cast for all candidates in the race for the highest-ranking at-large municipal office appearing on a ballot. If no such office appeared on a ballot, then "total number of votes cast" shall be determined by using the sum of votes cast for or against the municipal question or proposition receiving the largest total number of votes on a ballot, provided that all voters registered and residing within the municipal limits were eligible to vote on such question or proposition.

Historical Data


Laws 1977, HB 1100, c. 256, § 12-108, eff. July 1, 1978; Amended by Laws 1984, HB 1669, c. 126, § 26, eff. November 1, 1984; Amended by Laws 2016, SB 1172, c. 41, § 1, eff. November 1, 2016 (superseded document available); Amended by Laws 2019, HB 2119, c. 149, § 1, eff. November 1, 2019 (superseded document available).

Citationizer® Summary of Documents Citing This Document
Cite Name Level
Oklahoma Attorney General's Opinions
 CiteNameLevel
 2003 OK AG 12, Question Submitted by: The Honorable Ray Vaughn, State Representative, District 81Cited
Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals Cases
 CiteNameLevel
 2004 OK CIV APP 54, 92 P.3d 715, IN RE: REFERENDUM PETITION NO. 0203-1Cited
 2022 OK CIV APP 29, 516 P.3d 1168, IN RE CITY OF EUFAULA INITIATIVE PETITION NO. 3Discussed
Oklahoma Supreme Court Cases
 CiteNameLevel
 1989 OK 112, 777 P.2d 1331, 60 OBJ 1791, Quinn v. City of TulsaCited
 1990 OK 36, 790 P.2d 1108, 61 OBJ 1027, Gaddis v. City of BartlesvilleDiscussed
 2007 OK 29, 158 P.3d 1067, TERRY v. BISHOPDiscussed
 2008 OK 61, 188 P.3d 128, NEIDY v. CITY OF CHICKASHADiscussed at Length
 1980 OK 61, 610 P.2d 243, Referendum Petition Filed with City Clerk of Norman on January 31, 1980, Matter ofCited
 1982 OK 78, 648 P.2d 1207, Initiative Petition No. 317, State Question No. 556, In reCited
 1986 OK 13, 718 P.2d 1353, 59 OBJ 949, Initiative Petition Filed Nov. 15, 1983, Matter ofDiscussed
Citationizer: Table of Authority
Cite Name Level
Title 34. Initiative and Referendum
 CiteNameLevel
 34 O.S. 1, Referendum Petition - Form - Time for FilingCited
 34 O.S. 2, Initiative Petition - FormCited