OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Bill Coleman, R-Ponca City, has requested legislation to ensure state elected officials remain accountable to Oklahoma voters.Coleman said he intends to file legislation to amend Oklahoma’s Constitution to allow for recall elections of state elected officials.Coleman said he is working with Senate staff to draft legislation that would allow the Oklahoma Legislature to refer recall propositions to the ballot so voters can decide whether to remove or retain a specific state official. Because the legislation would alter the state’s Constitution, it would have to pass both legislative chambers and then be approved by Oklahoma voters to become effective.Currently, the only way a state official can be removed from office is through impeachment, a legal process started by the House when an elected official breaks state law or willfully neglects their duties.“Oklahoma law only allows for impeachment in limited circumstances, and such proceedings are extremely rare because many lawmakers rightly feel it is inappropriate to overturn the will of the voters,” Coleman said. “Allowing for recall elections gives the Legislature another option that puts Oklahoma voters in charge of saying whether an elected official stays or goes.“Many states offer some avenue for voters to recall state elected officials. This legislation will take that idea and put the Legislature in the driver’s seat to ensure the recall process is not overused or abused.“This legislation is not directed at any one individual, but I hope it serves as an important accountability measure to ensure all politicians, including state lawmakers, set aside their personal interests and focus on serving the public.”Coleman said he intends to file this legislation before the Jan. 16 bill filing deadline.Although some Oklahoma municipalities allow voters to collect and submit signatures to force a recall election of local officials, existing law does not allow the same practice at the state level.Across the nation, 19 other states permit the recall of some state officials.
