Oklahoma minimum wage hike proposal likely to miss the Nov. 5 general election ballot

File boxes containing the signatures of supporters of an initiative petition to increase the state's minimum wage are stacked Sept. 15, in front of an Oklahoma City building. (Photo courtesy of Raise the Wage Oklahoma)

OKLAHOMA CITY – It is highly unlikely a state question seeking to raise Oklahoma’s minimum wage will be on the Nov. 5 general election ballot, a campaign spokeswoman said Wednesday.

“And while it appears it would be extremely difficult to make the 2024 ballot given the delay tactics orchestrated and led by the political insiders at the Oklahoma State Chamber, our work will continue,” said Amber England, a spokesperson for Raise the Wage Oklahoma.

The measure has already survived a protest brought by the State Chamber and Oklahoma Farm Bureau Legal Foundation.

The Oklahoma Supreme Court in an Aug. 15 ruling said supporters of State Question 832 had obtained sufficient signatures to put the matter to a vote of the people.

The petition contained 157,287 verified signatures, well above the 92,263 needed to get it on the ballot.

Sept. 5 is the end date of a 10-day protest period, England said.

“Once the required protest period is over, Governor Stitt should not delay in issuing a proclamation to put State Question 832 on the next possible ballot – which could happen as early as 70 days from the day that proclamation is issued,” England said.

Misha Mohr, an Oklahoma State Election Board spokesperson, said Monday is the deadline for Gov. Kevin Stitt to issue a proclamation to put the measure on the Nov. 5 ballot.

England said Oklahomans have waited 15 years for politicians to act and had hoped to make the Nov. 5 ballot.

“We will be ready whatever ballot is in front of us,” England said.

If approved by voters, it would increase the minimum wage to $9 an hour in 2025 from the current $7.25, the same as the federal minimum wage.

It calls for an additional gradual increase to $15 an hour in 2029.

Additional increases would be tied to the cost of living measured by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Consumer Price Index.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX

DONATE: SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST