Oklahoma

Oklahoma’s congressional lines are drawn by the state legislature, as a regular statute, subject to gubernatorial veto. The members of the state House and their responsibilities in redistricting are listed here.

Oklahoma’s legislature is also primarily responsible for drawing state legislative lines. If the legislature fails to pass a plan, authority falls to an seven-member backup commission, newly in place in 2010. The Lieutenant Governor is the nonvoting chair of the commission; the Governor, state Senate majority leader, and state House majority leader each choose one Republican and one Democrat to serve as commissioners. [Okla. Const. art. V, § 11A]

The Oklahoma Supreme Court has original jurisdiction to hear challenges to state legislative plans in state court. [Okla. Const. art. V, § 11C]

Oklahoma state law does not impose a particular deadline for drawing congressional lines, though candidates must file for congressional primary elections by Apr. 15, 2022. [Okla. Stat. tit. 26 § 5-110]  The legislative session is currently scheduled to begin on Feb. 1, 2021, and end on May 28, 2021.

The legislature’s deadline for drawing state legislative lines is 90 legislative days after the start of the first regular session following the census, scheduled to convene on Feb. 1, 2021.  If the legislature fails to pass a plan by then, the backup commission will be convened. [Okla. Const. art. V, § 11A]   Candidates must file for state legislative primary elections by Apr. 15, 2022. [Okla. Stat. tit. 26 § 5-110]

Oklahoma ties the drawing of state legislative lines to the Census, and might therefore be construed to prohibit redrawing lines mid-decade; there is no similar provision pertaining to congressional lines. [Okla. Const. art. V, § 11A]

The state House has announced several public hearings thus far, in December 2020 and January 2021.  The chair of the state Senate redistricting committee has also promised public hearings with the opportunity to offer comments, the opportunity to submit maps, and public notice before legislative action.

Like all states, Oklahoma must comply with constitutional equal population requirements.

Oklahoma must also, like all states, abide by the Voting Rights Act and constitutional rules on race.

The state constitution provides that in drawing state Senate lines, “consideration shall be given to population, compactness, area, political units, historical precedents, economic and political interests, contiguous territory, and other major factors, to the extent feasible.” [Okla. Const. art. V, § 9A]

The redistricting committee of the state House has in the past adopted guidelines, which the legislature may alter as it wishes.

The Oklahoma legislature passed a congressional plan (HB 1527) on May 4, 2011, which was signed by the Governor on May 10, 2011.

The Oklahoma legislature enacted state Senate (SB 821) and state House (HB 2145) plans on May 16, 2011; both were signed by the Governor on May 20, 2011.  The state Senate plan was challenged in state court, and upheld.  [Wilson v. Oklahoma ex rel. State Election Bd., 270 P.3d 155 (Okla. 2012); Wilson v. Fallin, 262 P.3d 741 (Okla. 2011)]

Materials and maps for the state House are available here.

The Oklahoma legislature deadlocked on a congressional plan, and on May 31, 2002, a state trial court drew the lines following the Governor’s proposal.  The congressional plan was challenged in state and federal court, and upheld.  [Alexander v. Taylor, 51 P.3d 1204 (Okla. 2002); Edwards v. Keating, No. 5:02-cv-00306 (W.D. Okla. 2002)]

The Oklahoma legislature enacted a state Senate plan (SB 619) that was signed on May 23, 2001; and a state House plan (HB 1515) that was signed on May 24, 2001.