Oklahoma Question 711

Oklahoma Question 711[1] of 2004, was an amendment to the Oklahoma Constitution that defined marriage as the union of a man and a woman, thus rendering recognition or performance of same-sex marriages or civil unions null within the state prior to its being ruled unconstitutional. The referendum was approved by 76 percent of the voters.[2]

The text of the amendment states:

(a.) Marriage in this state shall consist only of the union of one man and one woman. Neither this Constitution nor any other provision of law shall be construed to require that marital status or the legal incidents thereof be conferred upon unmarried couples or groups.
(b.) A marriage between persons of the same gender performed in another state shall not be recognized as valid and binding in this state as of the date of the marriage.
(c.) Any person knowingly issuing a marriage license in violation of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.[3]

On January 14, 2014, Judge Terence C. Kern of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma declared Question 711 unconstitutional. The case, Bishop v. United States (formerly Bishop v. Oklahoma), was then stayed pending appeal.[4] On July 18, 2014, the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit ruled that Oklahoma's ban was unconstitutional.[5] On October 6, 2014, the Supreme Court of the United States rejected Oklahoma's request for review, overturning all state laws banning same-sex marriage.

Results

Question 711[6]
Choice Votes %
Referendum passed Yes 1,075,216 75.58
No 347,303 24.42
Total votes 1,422,519 100.00
Registered voters and turnout 2,510,823 56.65

See also

References

  1. ↑ General Election, November 2, 2004, Summary Results Archived April 2, 2007, at the Wayback Machine., Oklahoma State Election Board. Accessed 22 December 2006.
  2. ↑ CNN.com Election 2004 - Ballot Measures Accessed 30 November 2006.
  3. ↑ at sos.ok.gov Accessed 18 July 2014.
  4. ↑ Federal lawsuit renewed against Oklahoma's constitutional ban of same-sex marriage Accessed 11 December 2010
  5. ↑ Bell, Kyle (18 July 2014). "10th Circuit Appeals Court Strikes Down Oklahoma Gay Marriage Ban". South Bend Voice. Retrieved 18 July 2014.
  6. ↑ "2004 General Election Turnout Rates". United States Election Project. June 4, 2013.
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