Sen. Bergstrom files voter qualification legislation

Legislation filed Wednesday would allow voters to decide who is qualified to participate in Oklahoma’s election process.

Senate Joint Resolution 23 by Senator Micheal Bergstrom, R-Adair, would allow a vote of the people to amend the Oklahoma Constitution to clarify only citizens of the United States are qualified to vote in Oklahoma.

“Currently, U.S. citizens who are residents of Oklahoma have the right to vote, but non-citizens are not disallowed,” Bergstrom said. “Without a constitutional change, a future legislative body could allow non-citizens to vote. This state question would make that impossible, unless a vote of the people decides to allow it first.”

If SJR 23 is passed by both the Oklahoma Senate and House of Representatives, the measure would appear as a state question on the November 2020 ballot for the people to approve or deny.

“While other states move toward undermining the importance of United States citizenship and the privileges and responsibilities that come with it, I believe Oklahomans wish to protect those things,” Bergstrom said.