Oklahoma voters will have to wait nearly two years to decide if they want to raise the state’s minimum wage to $15 per hour.

Gov. Kevin Stitt on Sept. 11 scheduled State Question 832 to appear on the June 16, 2026 primary election ballot. Organizers of the initiative petition had hoped the question would appear before voters this November, but the measure ultimately was not certified in time to accommodate overseas voters.

In a statement, Stitt said setting the question for the next eligible statewide election would save the state $1.8 million. The move stands in contrast to the decision he made in September 2022, when he opted to set an initiative petition on recreational marijuana for a special election on March 7, 2023. About one in four registered voters turned out to vote on State Question 820, which was soundly defeated.

The Raise the Wage Oklahoma campaign accused Stitt of intentionally delaying the question as a political favor to the State Chamber of Commerce, which opposes the measure. Spokesperson Amber England told the Tulsa World that the campaign is evaluating legal options to try and force an earlier election date.

“Waiting two years may not be a big deal to the governor and his wealthy donors, but they should get off the golf course every once in a while and go talk to the thousands of Oklahomans who are struggling to feed their families, pay their rent, or put gas in their car,” England said in a statement.

There is recent precedent for a state question appearing on the June primary ballot. In June 2018, voters soundly supported a ballot initiative to legalize medical marijuana. That election, which took place just months after the statewide teacher walkout, had noticeably higher turnout than most primary races.

If voters approve State Question 832, most employers in the state would have to pay at least $12 per hour beginning in January 2027, increasing by $1.50 per hour until 2029. Future increases after 2029 would be tied to U.S. Department of Labor data.

Two legislatively referred initiatives will appear on the November ballot. State Question 833 proposes allowing municipalities to create public infrastructure districts. State Question 834 asks voters to approve a change to the Oklahoma Constitution to specify that only U.S. citizens may vote in the state.