Oklahoma Becomes 17th State to Ban Child Marriage

Oklahoma has officially become the 17th state in the United States to prohibit child marriage. This type of marriage involves at least one party under the age of 18. The United Nations identifies child marriage as a violation of human rights and considers it a form of forced marriage.

In 2017, it was legal for individuals under 18 to marry in all 50 states. However, nearly a decade later, 17 states and Washington, D.C., have amended their laws to set the legal marriage age at 18 without exceptions.

Statistics from 2000 to 2018 reveal that nearly 300,000 children as young as 10 legally married in the U.S. Most of these cases involved girls marrying adult men, as reported by Unchained at Last, an organization combatting child marriage in the U.S.

Oklahoma’s Legislation

Oklahoma passed a bill requiring marriage aspirants in the state to be at least 18 years old, with no exceptions stipulated. The state Senate approved the bill unanimously. It encountered some debate in the state House, particularly from Republican members, before narrowly passing by a single vote.

Previously, Oklahoma law permitted minors to marry with parental or guardian consent. Courts could authorize marriage for children 16 or younger.

States Where Child Marriage Remains Legal

The states listed below still permit some form of child marriage according to Unchained At Last:

• Alabama
• Alaska
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• California
• Colorado
• Florida
• Georgia
• Hawaii
• Idaho
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Maryland
• Mississippi
• Montana
• Nebraska
• Nevada
• New Mexico
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Utah
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming

Despite legality in these states, several lawmakers are advocating for change. In Wisconsin, Democratic lawmakers have proposed legislation to terminate child marriage entirely. If successful, marriage would be restricted to those 18 and older, without any exceptions.

Advocates frequently highlight that child marriage increases vulnerability to abuse and restricts legal rights for minors. Concerns are also raised about the disparate state laws, enabling minors to be transported to states where child marriage is legal.

States With a Complete Ban

The following states have imposed a total ban on marriage for those under 18:

• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Maine
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Missouri
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New York
• Oklahoma
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• Vermont
• Virginia
• Washington

Future Implications

Oklahoma’s new law will be enacted on November 1. This is part of a growing trend among states to eliminate child marriage entirely, aiming to protect children’s rights and ensure their wellbeing.