Oklahomans deserve a voice in deciding our laws. Keep the ballot initiative as it is
There are two ways to change state law in Oklahoma ― through the Legislature or directly by the people.
Legislators can pass a bill to repeal or amend a statute or create new law, which must then be approved by the governor, or vote to place a state question before the citizens to change the Constitution or statutes. But the citizens themselves can change our laws by getting a state question on the ballot through the initiative petition process. We’ve seen this process utilized when citizens have been frustrated by a lack of action by the Legislature. Medical marijuana, Medicaid expansion and criminal justice reform are examples of how that frustration led to changes in law through the citizens’ initiative petition route.
This session, we’re seeing an assault on the rights of the people as some elected officials are working to hamper the people’s ability to change the law through the initiative petition process. House Bill 1105 is headed to the floor of the Oklahoma Senate and would make it much more difficult for citizens to get state questions on the ballot.
HB 1105 would require a $1,000 fee to even get started, though it has been pointed out that the fee is refundable if the petition meets the qualifications to appear on the ballot. That may be too much of a roadblock for some citizens, but I heard another member comment that if the petition was serious, organizers could just get a few of their friends to chip in for this $1,000 fee. Maybe that’s true for wealthy individuals surrounded by wealthy friends, but I don’t think that applies to most Oklahomans. The bill would also extend the protest period to challenge an initiative petition from 10 days to 90 days. Additionally, it would require individuals collecting signatures to undergo criminal background checks.
Opinion: Oklahoma voters have been decisive with initiative petitions. Lawmakers should show some respect
Why, after more than 100 years, do we suddenly need a huge fee, or a vastly longer protest period, much less criminal background checks? I cannot think of a single incident that points to the need for these requirements. I would argue this is simply being driven by the fact that those in power don’t like it when the public expresses its political will in ways these politicians don’t agree with.
Just as concerning, this is happening at the same time as legislation is moving through that will impact voting rights. While current law requires the presentation of an ID or voter registration card, now some politicians want to expand that by requiring a photo ID, instead of just the voter registration card each citizen receives when they register with their local election board. While the bill says these IDs would be free, time and transportation could keep some would-be voters from participating on election day. I would argue that’s exactly the point.
I find it interesting that following elections, politicians will acknowledge the will of the people, and some even insist outcomes in their favor give them a free pass to enact whatever they personally choose, because they have a “mandate” from the people. But when Oklahomans clearly express their will through the initiative petition process, many of those same politicians seem to imply the citizens aren’t smart enough to understand what they were voting for.
Our citizens need to pay very close attention to what’s happening at their state Capitol at the hands of lawmakers who seem intent on hampering their right to have a direct impact on the laws and policies of our state, and I urge them to make their opposition known.
George Young, D-Oklahoma City, represents District 48 in the Oklahoma Senate. He plans to retire at the end of the current legislative session.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma should keep its ballot initiative process as it is
