City Charter Changes Proposition - April 2026 Election

Voters in Norman will have the opportunity to accept or reject proposed City Charter changes at the polls on April 7, 2026. To participate, residents must be registered to vote no later than March 13. The deadline to request an absentee ballot is March 23, and early voting will be available on April 2 and April 3. 

To view the current City of Norman Charter, visit https://norman.municipalcodeonline.com. To learn more about voting or check your voter registration status, visit https://oklahoma.gov/elections.html.

There will be three other propositions presented to Norman voters on the April 7th ballot. Learn more about those here.

Additional questions can be directed to PublicAffairs@Normanok.gov.

Proposition 3

Proposition 3 would amend the City of Norman Charter to update when newly elected City Councilmembers and the Mayor officially begin their terms. Currently, terms start on the first Tuesday in July. This change would align the start of terms with the first Tuesday following any scheduled run-off elections, ensuring election results are finalized before officials take office. 

At this time, elections for councilmembers are held every February with potential run-offs in April. Ward representatives serve two years terms; the Mayor serves a three-year term.

The amendment allows election winners to assume office more quickly, in an effort to reflect the will of the majority of voters in any election cycle.

If approved, the change would go into effect in later years, shown below, to ensure current terms are not impacted by the change:

  • 2028 for Councilmembers representing even-numbered wards
  • 2029 for Councilmembers representing odd-numbered wards
  • 2031 for the Mayor

All City Charter Changes approved by voters must then be signed off on by the Oklahoma governor before they go into effect.

Proposition 4

Proposition 4 would amend the City of Norman Charter to allow for alternative professional certifications of eligibility for the City Auditor position. Currently, the Charter requires the City Auditor to be a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). This change would allow candidates with other relevant professional certifications — such as Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), or equivalent credentials — to qualify for the role. The amendment is intended to expand the pool of applicants while maintaining satisfactory standards for financial oversight and accountability.

The City Auditor position was established in 2022 as a full-time, at-will role appointed by a five-member majority of the City Council and serving at the Council’s pleasure. To date, one person has served in this capacity. The position has been vacant since October 2025. Article V of the City Charter further details the roles and responsibilities of the City Auditor.

All City Charter Changes approved by voters must then be signed off on by the Oklahoma governor before they go into effect.