Oklahoma Voters Approve State Official English Law

More than 75 percent of voters cast

Washington, D.C. – Oklahoma voters decisively approved State Question 751 yesterday, officially becoming the 31st state to make English its official language. The constitutional amendment passed with more than 75 percent of the vote, as nearly 750,000 Oklahomans cast ballots in favor of the measure.

The approved constitutional amendment makes English the official language of all government business and proceedings in Oklahoma, with exceptions made for Native American languages and requirements of federal law. Like all other official English laws and legislation, Oklahoma’s amendment does not affect emergency services, languages spoken at home, or citizens in non-government related business.

Mauro E. Mujica, Chairman of U.S. English, Inc. issued the follow statement after the results were certified Tuesday night:

“Voters in Oklahoma have overwhelmingly united behind our common language of English. They understand that this isn’t a Republican, Democrat or Independent issue- It’s an American issue that unites us all as one people. With all the support we saw tonight I extend my congratulations to Rep. Randy Terrill for his outstanding work in bringing this issue before the voters and for his re-election to the Oklahoma House of Representatives.”

Voter referendums to make English the official language of the state have appeared on nine statewide ballots since 1986. All of these initiatives have passed, beginning with California (1986), Colorado (1988), Alabama (1988), Arizona (1988) and Florida (1988). In 1998 Alaskans passed an official English measure, followed two years later by Utah. Arizona voters placed a new official English measure on the books in 2006, while Missourians voted to strengthen the state’s official English law in Nov. 2008.