Oklahoma Senate Joint Resolution 13

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Oklahoma Senate Joint Resolution 13, proposed by Oklahoma state senator Randy Brogdon, would amend the Oklahoma Constitution to lower the percentage of signatures required in Oklahoma from 15% for a constitutional amendment and 10% for a statutory change to 10% and 8% respectively.[1]

If the legislature passes SJR 13, it will be referred to the 2010 ballot in Oklahoma.[2]

Ballot language

The ballot language that Oklahoma voters will see reads as follows:[3]

This measure amends a section of the State Constitution. The section deals with initiative petitions. It also deals with referendum petitions. It deals with how many signatures are required on such petitions. It changes that requirement.
"Initiative" is the right to propose laws and constitutional amendments.
"Referendum" is the right to reject a law passed by the Legislature.
The following voter signature requirements apply.
8% must sign to propose law
15% must sign to propose to change the State Constitution.
5% must sign to order a referendum.
These percentages are based upon the State office receiving the most total votes at the last General Election. The measure changes this basis. The measure's basis uses every other General Election. General Elections are held every two years. The Governor is on the ballot every four years. The measure's basis only uses General Elections with the Governor on the ballot.
The President is on the ballot in intervening General Elections. The measure's basis does not use General Elections with the President on the ballot.
More votes are usually cast at Presidential General Elections. Thus, the measure would generally have a lowering effect on the number of required signatures.

Background

In early May 2009 the ballot measure was approved by both the Senate and the House of Representatives and will appear on the 2010 ballot. The ballot measure was proposed by Sen. Randy Brodgon. [4]

SJR 13 proposes to change the formula that the state uses to calculate the number of signatures a petition needs. Previously that number was based on a percentage of voters who cast ballots in the last gubernatorial or presidential election. The measure suggests that the percentage be based only on the state gubernatorial election and not on the presidential election. It is argued that the change will bring some consistency to the number of petition signatures.[5]

Support

Author of the ballot measure, Sen. Randy Brodgon and Rep. Randy Terrill helped pass the measure through both houses of the legislature. [6]

Brogdon stated his support for the measure when he explained that the amendment would allow for a free exchange of ideas that are new, not just limited to two parties. According to Brogdon: “We just want to talk about the two things — Republican and Democrat, Republican and Democrat. Not me. I’m a student. I learn every time I talk to someone, I have opportunities to glean from their knowledge.”[7]

Oklahomans for Responsible Government is a strong proponent for petition reform. Brian Downs, Executive Director of Oklahomans for Responsible Government, said, "A fundamental right of the people is to be able to petition their government and create their own laws. Oklahoma has one of the highest barriers to getting a measure on the ballot and Senate Joint Resolution 13 will make that a little easier.”[4]

The Citizens in Charge Foundation is also a supporter of SJR 13. Paul Jacob, the foundation's president, called SJR 13, “the most important pro-initiative measure passed by a state legislature in many, many years — arguably decades.”[8]

Related bills

  • House Bill 2246, authored by Rep. Terrill, and Senate Bill 852, authored by Sen. Borgdon, both propose to extend petition circulation from 90 days to 1 year.
  • Senate Bill 800 - Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry signed into the bill into law on May 26, 2009. The bill permits people who plan to circulate an initiative submit a description of their initiative for public scrutiny before they gather signatures.

See also

External links

References

  1. ↑ Several Oklahoma bills aim to open up initiative process
  2. ↑ Ballot Access News, "Oklahoma Bills to Make Initiative Qualification Easier Advance", February 18, 2009
  3. ↑ Oklahoma Secretary of State, "Proposed State Questions"
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Oklahomans for Responsible Government,"Initiative Petition Reform Gets On the Ballot," May 5,2009
  5. ↑ The Enid News,"Group is seeking consistency in Oklahoma’s petition process," May 14,2009
  6. ↑ The Oklahoman,"Bills would ease initiative burdens," May 22,2009
  7. ↑ The Edmond Sun, "State Question 750 opens up ballot access", October 7, 2009
  8. ↑ Citizens in Charge Foundation,"Oklahoma Legislature Passes Major Reform," May 5,2009
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