MTGuru wrote:
Unfortunately, the proposition process is really out of control here in California.
Here are the questions on our ballot (aside from voting on everything from state superintendent of schools to insurance commissioner)...
Oklahoma
STATE QUESTIONS FOR GENERAL ELECTION
November 2, 2010
STATE QUESTION NO. 744 INITIATIVE PETITION NO. 391
The measure repeals a Section of the State Constitution. The repealed section required the Legislature
annually to spend $42.00 for each common school student. Common schools offer pre-kindergarten through
twelfth grade.
The measure also adds a new Article to the Constitution. It sets a minimum average amount the State must
annually spend on common schools. It requires the State to spend annually, no less than the average amount
spent on each student by the surrounding states. Those surrounding states are Missouri, Texas, Kansas,
Arkansas, Colorado and New Mexico. When the average amount spent by surrounding states declines,
Oklahoma must spend the amount it spent the year before.
The measure deals with money spent on day-to-day operations of the schools and school districts. This
includes spending on instructions, support services and non-instruction services. The measure does not deal
with money spent to pay debt, on buildings or on other capital needs.
The measure requires that increased spending begin in the first fiscal year after its passage. It requires that
the surrounding state average be met in the third fiscal year after passage.
The measure does not raise taxes, nor does it provide new funding for the new spending requirements.
SHALL THE PROPOSAL BE APPROVED? FOR THE PROPOSAL — YES
AGAINST THE PROPOSAL — NO
OKLAHOMA STATE QUESTIONS
General Election — November 2, 2010
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O K L A H O M A S T A T E E L E C T I O N B O A R D
STATE QUESTION NO. 746 LEGISLATIVE REFERENDUM NO. 347
This measure amends statutes relating to voting requirements. It requires that each person appearing to vote
present a document proving their identity. The document must meet the following requirements. It must have
the name and photograph of the voter. It must have been issued by the federal, state or tribal government.
It must have an expiration date that is after the date of the election. No expiration date would be required on
certain identity cards issued to persons 65 years of age or older.
In lieu of such a document, voters could present voter identification cards issued by the County Election
Board.
A person who cannot or does not present the required identification may sign a sworn statement and cast a
provisional ballot. Swearing to a false statement would be a felony.
These proof of identity requirements also apply to in-person absentee voting. If adopted by the people, the
measure would become effective July 1, 2011.
SHALL THE PROPOSAL BE APPROVED? FOR THE PROPOSAL — YES
AGAINST THE PROPOSAL — NO
STATE QUESTION NO. 747 LEGISLATIVE REFERENDUM NO. 348
This measure amends sections 4 and 23 of Articles 6 and section 15 of Article 9 of the State Constitution.
It limits the ability of voters to re-elect statewide elected officers by limiting how many years those officers
can serve. It limits the number of years a person may serve in each statewide elected office. Service as
Governor is limited to eight years. Service as Lieutenant Governor is limited to eight years. Service as
Attorney General is limited to eight years. Service as Treasurer is limited to eight years. Service as
Commissioner of Labor is limited to eight years. Service as Auditor and Inspector is limited to eight years.
Service as Superintendent of Public Instruction is limited to eight years. Service as Insurance Commissioner
is limited to eight years. Service as a Corporation Commissioner is limited to twelve years.
Service for less than a full term would not count against the limit on service. Years of service need not be
consecutive for the limits to apply.
Officers serving when this measure is passed can complete their terms. All such serving officers, except the
Governor, can also serve an additional eight or twelve years.
SHALL THE PROPOSAL BE APPROVED? FOR THE PROPOSAL — YES
AGAINST THE PROPOSAL — NO
OKLAHOMA STATE QUESTIONS
General Election — November 2, 2010
Page 3 of 8
O K L A H O M A S T A T E E L E C T I O N B O A R D
STATE QUESTION NO. 748 LEGISLATIVE REFERENDUM NO. 349
This measure amends Sections 11A and 11B of Article 5 of the Oklahoma Constitution. These provisions
deal with how the Legislature is divided into districts. This process is known as apportionment. The
Legislature must make an apportionment after each ten-year federal census. If the Legislature fails to act, an
Apportionment Commission must do so. The measure changes the name of this Commission. It removes all
three existing Commission members. It removes the Attorney General. It removes the Superintendent of
Public Instruction. It also removes the State Treasurer.
The measure increases the number of members from three to seven. The President Pro Tempore of the Senate
appoints one Democrat and one Republican. The Speaker of the House of Representatives appoints one
Democrat and one Republican. The Governor appoints one Democrat and one Republican.
The measure provides that the Lieutenant Governor chairs the Commission and is a nonvoting member. It
requires orders of apportionment to be signed by at least four members of the Commission.
SHALL THE PROPOSAL BE APPROVED? FOR THE PROPOSAL — YES
AGAINST THE PROPOSAL — NO
OKLAHOMA STATE QUESTIONS
General Election — November 2, 2010
Page 4 of 8
O K L A H O M A S T A T E E L E C T I O N B O A R D
STATE QUESTION NO. 750 LEGISLATIVE REFERENDUM NO. 350
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 a 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.
SHALL THE PROPOSAL BE APPROVED? FOR THE PROPOSAL — YES
AGAINST THE PROPOSAL — NO
OKLAHOMA STATE QUESTIONS
General Election — November 2, 2010
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O K L A H O M A S T A T E E L E C T I O N B O A R D
STATE QUESTION NO. 751 LEGISLATIVE REFERENDUM NO. 351
This measure amends the State Constitution. It adds a new Article to the Constitution. That Article deals
with the State’s official actions. It dictates the language to be used in taking official State action. It requires
that official State actions be in English. Native American languages could also be used. When Federal law
requires, other languages could also be used.
These language requirements apply to the State’s “official actions.” The term “official actions” is not defined.
The Legislature could pass laws determining the application of the language requirements. The Legislature
would also pass laws implementing and enforcing the language requirements.
No lawsuit based on State law could be brought on the basis of a State agency’s failure to use a language
other than English. Nor could such a lawsuit be brought against political subdivisions of the State.
SHALL THE PROPOSAL BE APPROVED? FOR THE PROPOSAL — YES
AGAINST THE PROPOSAL — NO
STATE QUESTION NO. 752 LEGISLATIVE REFERENDUM NO. 352
This measure amends a section of the Oklahoma Constitution. It amends Section 3 of Article 7-B. The
measure deals with the Judicial Nominating Commission. This Commission selects nominees to be appointed
judges or justices, when a vacancy occurs. The Commission selects three, sometimes four, qualified
nominees. The Governor must appoint one of the nominees.
The amendment adds two at-large members to the Commission. At-large members can come from any
Oklahoma congressional district. The Senate President Pro Tempore appoints one of the new at-large
members. The Speaker of the House of Representatives appoints the other. At-large members can not be
lawyers. Nor can they have a lawyer in their immediate family. Nor can more than two at-large members
be from the same political party.
Six non-at-large members are appointed by the Governor. They cannot be Oklahoma lawyers. The measure
adds a new qualification for non-lawyer members. They can not have a lawyer from any state in their
immediate family. Each congressional district must have at least one non-lawyer member.
Six lawyer members are elected by members of the Oklahoma Bar Association. Each congressional district
must have at least one lawyer member.
SHALL THE PROPOSAL BE APPROVED? FOR THE PROPOSAL — YES
AGAINST THE PROPOSAL — NO
OKLAHOMA STATE QUESTIONS
General Election — November 2, 2010
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O K L A H O M A S T A T E E L E C T I O N B O A R D
STATE QUESTION NO. 754 LEGISLATIVE REFERENDUM NO. 354
This measure adds a new section to the Oklahoma Constitution. It adds Section 55A to Article 5. The
Legislature designates amounts of money to be used for certain functions. These designations are called
appropriations. The measure deals with the appropriation process.
The measure limits how the Constitution could control that process. Under the measure the Constitution
could not require the Legislature to fund state functions based on:
1. Predetermined constitutional formulas,
2. How much other states spend on a function,
3. How much any entity spends on a function.
Under the measure these limits on the Constitution’s power to control appropriations would apply even if:
1. A later constitutional amendment changed the Constitution, or
2. A constitutional amendment to the contrary was passed at the same time as this measure.
Thus, under the measure, once adopted, the measure could not be effectively amended. Nor could it be
repealed.
SHALL THE PROPOSAL BE APPROVED? FOR THE PROPOSAL — YES
AGAINST THE PROPOSAL — NO
OKLAHOMA STATE QUESTIONS
General Election — November 2, 2010
Page 7 of 8
O K L A H O M A S T A T E E L E C T I O N B O A R D
STATE QUESTION NO. 755 LEGISLATIVE REFERENDUM NO. 355
This measure amends the State Constitution. It changes a section that deals with the courts of this state. It
would amend Article 7, Section 1. It makes courts rely on federal and state law when deciding cases. It
forbids courts from considering or using international law. It forbids courts from considering or using Sharia
Law.
International law is also known as the law of nations. It deals with the conduct of international organizations
and independent nations, such as countries, states and tribes. It deals with their relationship with each other.
It also deals with some of their relationships with persons.
The law of nations is formed by the general assent of civilized nations. Sources of international law also
include international agreements, as well as treaties.
Sharia Law is Islamic law. It is based on two principal sources, the Koran and the teaching of Mohammed.
SHALL THE PROPOSAL BE APPROVED? FOR THE PROPOSAL — YES
AGAINST THE PROPOSAL — NO
STATE QUESTION NO. 756 LEGISLATIVE REFERENDUM NO. 356
This measure adds a new section of law to the State Constitution. It adds Section 37 to Article 2. It defines
“health care system.” It prohibits making a person participate in a health care system. It prohibits making
an employer participate in a health care system. It prohibits making a health care provider provide treatment
in a health care system. It allows persons and employees to pay for treatment directly. It allows a health care
provider to accept payment for treatment directly. It allows the purchase of health care insurance in private
health care systems. It allows the sale of health insurance in private health care systems.
The measure’s effect is limited. It would not affect any law or rule in effect as of January 1, 2010.
Nor could the measure affect or negate all federal laws or rules. The United States Constitution has a
Supremacy Clause. That clause makes federal law the supreme law of the land. Under that clause Congress
has the power to preempt state law. When Congress intends to preempt state law, federal law controls. When
Congress intends it, constitutionally enacted federal law would preempt some or all of the proposed measure.
SHALL THE PROPOSAL BE APPROVED? FOR THE PROPOSAL — YES
AGAINST THE PROPOSAL — NO
OKLAHOMA STATE QUESTIONS
General Election — November 2, 2010
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