Oklahoma Administrative Code
Title 1 - EXECUTIVE ORDERS
Section 1:2023-29
Current through Vol. 41, No. 13, March 15, 2024
EXECUTIVE ORDER 2023-29
One of the few pillars of our system of government that continues to enjoy broad consensus is that elections should be decided by American citizens free from interference. Oklahoma's Constitution could not be clearer: "All elections shall be free and equal."
But elections are only as free and equal as the processes used to finance campaigns and count votes. Although federal law already prohibits contributions, donations, expenditures, and disbursements by foreign nationals to any federal, state, or local election, the State of Oklahoma may need additional clarity and/or legal safeguards to ensure our state election, initiative, and referendum processes are as free and equal as possible.
That said, I am proud to report that Oklahoma is a national leader in election security. Our state and county election boards are best in class. Oklahomans should know the ballots cast and counted in Oklahoma are legitimate. But we must not rest on our laurels. Instead, we must ensure that our elections and political processes are not tainted by other governments' investment and/or interference.
In short, political outcomes in Oklahoma should be products of Oklahomans exercising their individual political judgment freed from coercive influence. That's why I'm calling on the Legislature, and in particular the Senate Rules and House Election and Ethics Committees, to introduce legislation that would get governments' money and influence out of state elections once and for all-perhaps as soon as the next regular session.
Therefore, I, J. Kevin Stitt, Governor of the State of Oklahoma, pursuant to the power and authority vested in me by Sections 1 and 2 of Article VI of the Oklahoma Constitution, and to the fullest extent authorized by law, hereby order the creation of the Governor's Task Force on Campaign Finance and Election Threats (the Task Force) until January 15, 2024:
The Task Force shall study, evaluate, and develop policy and administrative recommendations related to campaign finance and foreign investment and/or interference in Oklahoma elections. Specific areas of inquiry should include, but need not be limited to:
1. Identifying the ways in which Oklahoma is leading the nation in election security;
2. Identifying any campaign finance loopholes that need to be closed and identifying the nature of any government interference in state elections;
3. Designing, for the Legislature's benefit as it considers drafting common-sense legislation to curtail any interference in our politics, a mechanism or process by which the state can detect the covert distribution of propaganda and disinformation against the peace and dignity of the State of Oklahoma.
The Task Force shall submit to the Governor, the President Pro Tempore of the Oklahoma Senate, and the Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives, a report on or before January 15, 2024, detailing its findings and recommendations.
The Task Force shall be composed of nine (9) members determined as follows:
1. The Chair, selected by the Governor;
2. Paul Ziriax, Secretary of the State Election Board;
3. Josh Cockroft, Secretary of State;
4. A county election board member from a county with a population of 50,000 or more, selected by the Chair;
5. A county election board member from a county with a population of 49,999 or less, selected by the Chair;
6. The President Pro Tempore of the Senate, or designee;
7. The Speaker of the House, or designee; and
The Governor shall appoint two (2) at-large members, each of whom should have expertise in matters relating to campaign finance, elections, privacy, or ethics.
The Chair of the Task Force, shall have the authority to create committees and name committee chairs to facilitate the work of the Task Force and shall have the authority to appoint Task Force members and/or non-member subject matter experts to serve on committees. The Task Force shall meet as often as deemed necessary by the Chair allowing for timely completion of its work. Five (5) or more members shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of conducting the business of the Task Force. Task Force members and non-members appointed to serve on committees shall serve without compensation.
The Office of Management and Enterprise Services shall provide staff, technical, and administrative support for the Task Force. All Executive departments, officers, agencies, and employees of the State shall cooperate with the Task Force, including providing any information, data, records, and reports as may be requested.
This Executive Order shall be distributed to each member of the Task Force, all state and county election boards, and all cabinet secretaries.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of Oklahoma to be affixed at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, on this 1st day of November, 2023.
BY THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA
J. Kevin Stitt
ATTEST:
Josh Cockroft
Secretary of State
