Case Summary
Two Oklahoma voters filed a protest in the Supreme Court of Oklahoma challenging qualification for placement on the ballot of a constitutional amendment by initiative (Initiative Petition 420), which sought to amend the state constitution to implement an independent redistricting commission who would be tasked with drawing maps for congressional and state legislative districts. Plaintiffs argued that the summary of the amendment that would be proposed to the voters—called the “gist”—is insufficient as a matter of law on the grounds it is inaccurate and misleading.
After oral argument was held, the Oklahoma Supreme Court found that because the ballot initiative's gist inaccurately described the initiative's proposed changes, the measure did not qualify for the ballot.
Case Library
Oklahoma Supreme Court - MA-118406