Oklahoma · November 3, 2026 general election · Statewide ballot measure
State Question 845 (Legislative Referendum 379): what your vote means
Judicial Nominating Commission. On every Oklahoma ballot. Official sources checked October 21, 2026.
State Question 845 (Legislative Referendum 379) · Legislatively referred constitutional amendment
Judicial Nominating Commission
Heads up: voting YES on this measure removes current limits on commissioners being licensed attorneys and on political party membership for some commissioners.
This measure amends article 7-B, section 3 of the Oklahoma Constitution, changing the Judicial Nominating Commission’s structure. Currently appointments are based on congressional districts as constituted in 1967. If approved, appointments to the fifteen-member Commission will be as follows: 1) Governor appoints six members, including one from each congressional district as of the time of their appointment; 2) the Oklahoma Bar Association appoints six members, including one from each congressional district as of the date of selection; and 3) no less than eight members select three at-large members. The measure will permit any number of the commissioners to be licensed attorneys in Oklahoma or another state. The prohibition against immediate family members from practicing law will be removed. The measure changes terms so that non-at-large commissioners would serve a two-year term, and all other commissioners would serve a six-year term. Additionally, it removes restrictions on political party membership for members appointed by the Governor and at-large members. The measure also permits a commissioner to succeed himself or herself. Vacancies will be filled in the same manner as a commissioner is appointed or selected for the remainder of the relevant term. This measure will not have a fiscal impact. Shall the proposal be approved?
Final ballot title as rewritten by the Attorney General and certified by the Secretary of State.
A YES vote means:
The Judicial Nominating Commission would be restructured so the Governor and the Oklahoma Bar Association each appoint six members and the Commission selects three at-large members, with limits on attorney membership and party membership removed.
A NO vote means:
The Commission stays as it is, with appointments based on congressional districts as constituted in 1967 and the current limits on attorneys and party membership.
What it would change
- Who is affected: the Governor, the Oklahoma Bar Association, commissioners, and candidates for appellate judgeships.
- Terms: non-at-large commissioners would serve two-year terms and at-large commissioners six-year terms; commissioners could succeed themselves.
- Party limits: restrictions would be removed for Governor-appointed and at-large members.
- Fiscal impact: According to the ballot title, this measure will not have a fiscal impact.
Who supports it and who opposes it
These lists come from official campaign filings (registered committees) and public endorsements, each linked to its source. They are not complete, and SaveYourState does not endorse anyone listed. Lists checked October 30, 2026.
Who supports it
Not yet compiled
Who opposes it
- Oklahoma Policy Institute Oklahoma Policy Institute: Vote NO on SQ 845 and SQ 847
Official sources
- Oklahoma Secretary of State: SQ 845 ballot title and supporting documents
- Full text: House Joint Resolution 1024 (certified copy in SQ 845 documents)
- Oklahoma State Election Board: state questions
- Fiscal statement in the Attorney General’s final ballot title (SQ 845 documents)
SaveYourState is independent and nonpartisan, not a government site, and does not take positions on ballot measures. This explainer describes effects only, using the official ballot title, explanatory statement, full text, and fiscal impact statement. If anything here differs from those documents, the official documents control.