State Question 846

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Oklahoma already requires proof of identity to vote. State Question 746, approved by voters in 2010 and effective in 2011, established that requirement in statute. Every person voting in person must present identification that includes:

• a name matching their voter registration,

• a photograph,

• an expiration date after the election date (with limited exceptions for certain indefinitely valid or military cards), and

• issuance by the U.S. government, the State of Oklahoma, or a federally recognized Native American tribe.

A county election board voter registration card also qualifies, even without a photo or expiration date. Voters unable to provide acceptable ID may sign a sworn statement and cast a provisional ballot. The measure also raised the penalty for printing fraudulent voter identification cards to a felony.

State Question 846, on the August 25, 2026 ballot, would move a general “proof of identity” requirement into the Oklahoma Constitution. It states that each voter shall present proof of identity when voting in any election conducted by a county election board or the State Election Board, applies the requirement to all authorized methods of voting, and directs the Legislature to enact laws specifying the requirements for that proof of identity.

Placing the basic requirement in the Constitution has one clear advantage: statutes can be amended or repealed by the Legislature, while a constitutional provision can be changed only by another statewide vote of the people. That durability is worthwhile in principle.

The problem is that SQ 846 stops there. It does not define what counts as acceptable identification. It leaves those critical details entirely to the Legislature. Current statutory standards would remain in place only until lawmakers decide otherwise. In short, the measure constitutionalizes a vague mandate while handing the Legislature broad authority to set—and later revise—the rules that actually determine who can vote and how.

A constitutional voter-ID provision should lock in clear, durable standards that protect election integrity. SQ 846 does not do that. It is poorly drafted for the purpose it claims to serve. Because it falls short of what Oklahomans should expect from a constitutional safeguard, a “No” vote is the responsible choice.