Opinion ID: 1360715
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The gist of the Initiative satisfies statutory requirements.

Text: Some Protestants complain that the gist of the proposition fails to adequately explain the proposition. [8] These Protestants contend that the gist of the proposition fails to explain the extent of the changes that would actually be made. Protestants would require too much of the gist of an initiative petition. The gist of a proposition, which is required by law to appear at the top of each signature page, need only contain a simple statement of the gist of the proposition. 34 O.S.Supp. 1992 § 3. The gist need not satisfy the more extensive requirements for ballot titles contained in 34 O.S.Supp. 1994 § 9. In re Initiative Petition No. 347, State Question No. 639, 813 P.2d 1019, 1026 (Okla. 1991); In re Initiative Petition No. 341, State Question No. 627, 796 P.2d 267, 274 (Okla. 1990). The gist of a proposition must be short. As it must appear at the beginning of every page of the petition, it can contain no more than a shorthand explanation of a proposition's terms. This Initiative's gist explained that the proposition would limit annual increases in property taxes, establish a vote of the people to increase them, and define procedures for increasing them. This was sufficient. The statement of the Initiative's gist satisfies 34 O.S.Supp. 1992 § 3.