A. The form of the petition for either initiative or referendum in a municipality shall be substantially as provided in Sections 1 and 2 of Title 34 of the Oklahoma Statutes. A true copy of each measure proposed by initiative and referendum shall be filed with the clerk of the municipality before it is circulated and signed by the registered voters.

B. Every petition for either the initiative or referendum shall be signed by a number of the registered voters residing in the municipality equal to at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the total number of votes cast at the most recent preceding general municipal election or biennial town meeting if the municipality is subject to the Oklahoma Town Meeting Act. The signatures to each petition shall be verified in the manner provided by law.

C. Signed copies of an initiative petition shall be submitted to the clerk within ninety (90) days after the initial filing of the measure with the clerk. Signed copies of a petition invoking a referendum upon any ordinance or resolution shall be submitted to the clerk within sixty (60) days after the passage of the ordinance or resolution. Amendments to municipal charters may be proposed by an initiative petition, and signed copies of such petition shall be submitted to the clerk not less than sixty (60) days before the election at which the amendments are to be voted upon.

D. For the purposes of this section, "total number of votes cast" shall mean the sum of the votes cast for all candidates in the race for the highest-ranking at-large municipal office appearing on a ballot. If no such office appeared on a ballot, then "total number of votes cast" shall be determined by using the sum of votes cast for or against the municipal question or proposition receiving the largest total number of votes on a ballot, provided that all voters registered and residing within the municipal limits were eligible to vote on such question or proposition.

Added by Laws 1977, c. 256, § 15-103, eff. July 1, 1978. Amended by Laws 1988, c. 105, § 18, eff. Nov. 1, 1988; Laws 2016, c. 41, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2016; Laws 2019, c. 149, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2019.