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By Barbara Hoberock, Oklahoma Voice
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OKLAHOMA CITY – A measure seeking to enshrine into the state Constitution a requirement that voters provide identification at the polls is a political stunt, critics said.

But supporters of Senate Joint Resolution 47, which easily passed through the Senate Thursday, said it’s necessary to add the nearly 16-year-old law into the state Constitution to ensure the continued integrity of Oklahoma’s election system in future years.

Senate President Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton, R-Tuttle, said the measure is needed to make sure future legislatures don’t remove the voter identification requirement without first holding a public vote. 

Paxton’s measure asks Oklahoma voters to approve the addition during a special election set for Aug. 25, which is also the runoff date for partisan primaries. Runoff primaries traditionally have the lowest voter turnout.

“With the number of state questions that are going to be on the ballot, combined with the number of statewide and local positions up this cycle, putting the state questions on the August ballot made the most sense,” Paxton said. “This will drive voter turnout and allow Oklahomans to focus more on individual state questions.

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A hand-curated list of the best journalism from across the state:

• Trump says he'll sign order to pay TSA agents as Congress struggles to reach funding deal (KOCO)

• Oklahoma City celebrates groundbreaking of Continental Coliseum (News 9)

• Lawmakers advance major changes for Oklahoma schools chief, state Board of Education (Oklahoma Voice)

• House lawmakers approve measures to send Medicaid expansion back to ballot (Oklahoma Voice)

• Leo’s Law advances at Oklahoma Capitol after emotional House vote (News On 6)

• New social studies standards pass Oklahoma State Board of Education vote (Oklahoma Voice)

• Lawmakers eye grand bargain on tobacco taxes as deadline looms (Oklahoma Watch)

• Gov. Stitt talks about getting Trump 'all-in' on Alan Armstrong to fill Senate vacancy (Tulsa World)*

• Where can you find No Kings protests in Oklahoma this weekend? (KOCO)

• Lawsuit settled in Oklahoma Highway Patrol car chase that killed innocent mother, daughter (Tulsa World)*

• Rising ICE enforcement prompts some Tulsa businesses to offer resources, support resistance (La Semana)

• Homeland to close, consolidate several Oklahoma stores: 'We can turn this thing around' (The Oklahoman)*

• OU softball pitching coach Jennifer Rocha 'cancer free' and set to return for LSU series (The Oklahoman)*

• Minutes matter in stroke cases. In rural Oklahoma, a telemedicine program is saving critical time (KGOU)

• Oklahoma wildlife refuge takes down display title under executive order for 'disparaging' U.S. history (KOSU)

Congressional candidate John Croisant joined Oklahoma Memo to unpack a chaotic moment in U.S. politics — from ICE agents appearing at airports and the stalled fight over DHS funding to growing concerns about a potential long-term conflict with Iran. The conversation also touched on a major ruling against Meta and YouTube and what it could mean for the future of social media regulation, especially for young users.

A daily briefing connecting Oklahomans to the state’s best journalism — and original content from Oklahoma Memo. Got a news tip? Somebody I need to interview? Message me at [email protected].