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OklahomaSB 652Oklahoma 2026 Regular SessionSenate

Administration of elections; modifying permissible dates for certain elections; authorizing special elections called for certain purposes to be held on certain dates. Effective date.

Sponsored By: Lonnie Paxton (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Senate Committee

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 3 mixed.

Governor gets more vacancy-election dates

The Governor can call special elections only on the set Tuesday dates. When a U.S. Representative, State Senator, or State Representative seat is vacant, or during a declared national or state emergency, the Governor can also use extra dates: the second Tuesday in January; the first Tuesday in March; the first Tuesday in May (odd years); the second Tuesday in July (odd years); the second Tuesday in September (odd years); the first Tuesday in October (odd years); and the second Tuesday in December. The act takes effect November 1, 2025, and these rules apply to elections held after January 1, 2026.

Local elections set to Tuesdays

The law requires county-run elections to be held only on Tuesdays. It sets allowed dates: the second Tuesday in February; the first Tuesday in April; the third Tuesday in June; the fourth Tuesday in August; the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November; and the second Tuesday in December every four years starting December 2025. Elections cannot be held on other days. If an election date is a state holiday, it moves to the next Tuesday. If any day of a candidate filing period falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or state holiday, it moves to the next business day. The act takes effect November 1, 2025, and these rules apply to elections held after January 1, 2026.

New deadlines for local election filings

Local governments that want their election on the same day as a state or federal election must file the resolution at least 75 days before the date. If that resolution sets a filing window, a three-day candidate filing period must start no later than 10 days after the resolution deadline. Municipal candidate filing may use the same dates as the state or federal filing period. For any special election to fill a vacancy, the three-day candidate filing period must start within 20 days after the resolution filing deadline. The act takes effect November 1, 2025, and these rules apply to elections held after January 1, 2026.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Lonnie Paxton

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Mike Osburn

    Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 228 • No: 8

Senate vote • 5/15/2025

FOURTH READING

Yes: 36 • No: 7

House vote • 5/7/2025

THIRD READING

Yes: 93 • No: 0

House vote • 4/17/2025

DO PASS

Yes: 16 • No: 0

House vote • 4/7/2025

DO PASS

Yes: 5 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/25/2025

THIRD READING

Yes: 47 • No: 0

Senate vote • 2/26/2025

Committee vote: Appropriations

Yes: 23 • No: 0

Senate vote • 2/19/2025

Committee vote: Judiciary

Yes: 8 • No: 1

Actions Timeline

  1. Approved by Governor 05/22/2025

    5/27/2025Senate

  2. Sent to Governor

    5/19/2025Senate

  3. Signed, returned to Senate

    5/19/2025House

  4. Enrolled, to House

    5/19/2025Senate

  5. Referred for enrollment

    5/15/2025Senate

  6. Measure passed: Ayes: 36 Nays: 7

    5/15/2025Senate

  7. HAs adopted

    5/15/2025Senate

  8. HAs read

    5/8/2025Senate

  9. Engrossed, signed, to Senate

    5/8/2025House

  10. Referred for engrossment

    5/7/2025House

  11. Third Reading, Measure passed: Ayes: 93 Nays: 0

    5/7/2025House

  12. General Order

    5/7/2025House

  13. CR; Do Pass, amended by committee substitute Government Oversight Committee

    4/21/2025House

  14. Policy recommendation to the Government Oversight committee; Do Pass, amended by committee substitute Elections and Ethics

    4/9/2025House

  15. Referred to Elections and Ethics

    4/1/2025House

  16. Second Reading referred to Government Oversight

    4/1/2025House

  17. First Reading

    3/26/2025House

  18. Engrossed to House

    3/26/2025Senate

  19. Referred for engrossment

    3/25/2025Senate

  20. Measure passed: Ayes: 47 Nays: 0

    3/25/2025Senate

  21. General Order, Amended by Floor Substitute

    3/25/2025Senate

  22. Placed on General Order

    3/3/2025Senate

  23. Reported Do Pass Appropriations committee; CR filed

    2/26/2025Senate

  24. Referred to Appropriations

    2/19/2025Senate

  25. Reported Do Pass, amended by committee substitute Judiciary committee; CR filed

    2/19/2025Senate

Bill Text

  • Enrolled (final version)

    5/19/2025

    PDF

  • Amended And Engrossed

    5/8/2025

    PDF

  • Floor (House)

    4/21/2025

    PDF

  • House Committee Report

    4/21/2025

    PDF

  • House Committee Substitute for Senate Bill

    4/21/2025

    PDF

  • House Policy Committee Report

    4/9/2025

    PDF

  • Engrossed

    3/26/2025

    PDF

  • Floor (Senate)

    2/27/2025

    PDF

  • Senate Committee Report 2

    2/26/2025

    PDF

  • Committee Substitute

    2/20/2025

    PDF

  • Senate Committee Report 1

    2/19/2025

    PDF

  • Introduced

    1/14/2025

    PDF

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