Constitutional Convention

A constitutional convention is a formal meeting where delegates come together to consider changes to a state’s constitution. Delegates are people chosen to represent the state’s residents at the convention, although who can serve and how they are selected depends on the rules established for that particular convention. Unlike the usual amendment process, where voters typically consider individual changes proposed through a legislative referendum or initiative petition, a constitutional convention can consider broader changes or even propose an entirely new constitution.

Article 24, Section 2 of the Oklahoma Constitution lays out the basic process for holding a constitutional convention. The Legislature cannot call a convention on its own. Voters must approve it in a statewide election. Even then, a convention would not have the power to change the Constitution on its own. Any amendments, revisions, or new constitution proposed by the convention would have to be submitted to Oklahoma voters and receive majority approval before taking effect. Article 24 also requires the question of whether to hold a constitutional convention to be submitted to voters at least once every 20 years.

Oklahoma’s first and only full constitutional convention took place as the state was being created. In 1906, voters elected 112 delegates — 55 from Oklahoma Territory, 55 from Indian Territory, and two from the Osage Nation — who gathered in Guthrie to write the Oklahoma Constitution. Their work was ultimately submitted to voters, who approved the new Constitution in September 1907, shortly before Oklahoma became a state. Since then, Oklahoma voters have been asked three times whether to call another constitutional convention, rejecting the question in 1926, 1950, and most recently in 1970. Although lawmakers have introduced proposals to call a constitutional convention in the years since, none have succeeded; some former lawmakers have raised concerns that special interests and partisan extremists could wield undue influence over the convention and its outcome.

More recently, state leaders have debated what a new convention might look like. During the 2026 legislative session, the House Speaker and Senate President Pro Tempore introduced House Joint Resolution 1089, which proposed making all 149 members of the Oklahoma Legislature the delegates to a constitutional convention. The measure passed the House 72-23 but did not advance beyond the Senate Rules Committee. 

In August 2026, Gov. Kevin Stitt called a special election for April 6, 2027, for Oklahoma voters to decide whether the Legislature should call a constitutional convention. However, the state’s Attorney General has said Oklahoma law does not give the governor the authority to call a vote on holding a constitutional convention. The Attorney General must now decide whether to take the issue to court, where a judge would determine whether the governor has the authority to call a constitutional convention.

Stitt’s order also created a nine-member Oklahoma Constitutional Convention Commission to study how a convention could work and recommend procedures, rules, safeguards, and any legislation needed to carry it out. The commission is required to submit its recommendations by Dec. 31, 2026.