VOTING IS A SACRED RIGHT AND RESPONSIBILITY!

 Weekly Opinion Editorial

CROWN JEWEL!

by Steve Fair

     Oklahoma voter’s November general election sample ballot is available.  Go to the state election board website to view/print your ballot.  Here is the link: https://oklahoma.gov/elections/ovp.html

     Sooner state voters will choose from five slates of electors for president/vice president.  In addition to the Democrat, Republican, and Libertarian slates, there are two independents.  There is only one statewide race on the ballot- three candidates running for a six-year term on the Corporation Commission.   There are also congressional, legislative, county and local races on the November 5^th ballot and vary by district.  Informed voters should download their sample ballot.

     A dozen judges/justices are on the November ballot to either retain or dismiss.  Oklahoma uses the retention ballot system where a judge faces voters, but has no opponent.  Voters check ‘yes’ or ‘no.’  If they get less than 50%, they are replaced, but since Oklahoma implemented the retention system, no judge has been removed, but that could change this year.

     Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs (OCPA) has researched rulings on the judges on the ballot.  That information can be accessed at: https://ocpathink.org/judicial-scorecard

     OCPA recommends all three justices of the state Supreme Court on the November ballot be dismissed.  All appointed by former Democrat governors, justices Yvonne Kauger (40 years), Noma Gurich (13 years), and James Edmonson (21 years) voted to kill lawsuit reform, workers comp reform, and struck down pro-life legislation.  If Kauger and Edmonson are retained, they would be 93 and 85 years old before they would face voters again in six years.  Voters should send them home.  

    Nine other judges are on the retention ballot.  Of those, these two should be retired: David Lewis (19 years) and Robert Bobby Bell (19 years).  Both were appointed by former Democrat Governor Brad Henry and their rulings are from the left.

     Oklahoma needs judicial reform.  In the current system, justices and judges are appointed by the governor from a list of three submitted by the Judicial Nominating Commission (JNC).  The JNC is composed of 15 members, 6 chosen by the Oklahoma Bar Association.  Defenders of the JNC claim it takes the partisanship out of the process, but the fruit has been liberal appellate courts in Oklahoma.  Conservative Oklahoma has liberal appellate courts and that needs to change.  If voters fire some justices/judges on November 5^th, judicial reform will follow.

     Oklahomans will also vote on two state questions on the ballot.  Both are Joint Resolutions, that originated in the state legislature.  Both would amend the state constitution, which is already the longest in the nation.

     State Question #833 would authorize municipalities to create public infrastructure districts (PID) to finance infrastructure improvements in a development.  A PID reduces the amount of money developers have to raise, but it also takes a city of the hook for the cost of development of infrastructure like water, sewer, etc.  SQ#833 requires unanimous approval of the PID, and those who will pay the taxes must agree to it, there is no downsize.  Voters should approve and give this tool to municipalities.

     State Question #834 changes Section 1, Article 3 of the state constitution to state: “only citizens of the United States are qualified to vote in this state.” It seems like common sense that non-citizens can’t vote, but with illegal immigration and border security at the southern border, legislators believe the clarification is necessary.  Voters should approve SQ#834.

     Eligible citizens have until Friday October 11^th to register to vote.  Forms are available on-line at: https://oklahoma.gov/elections/voter-registration/register-to-vote.html  Early in-person absentee voting is available on Wednesday October 30^th, Thursday October 31^st and Friday November 1^st from 8am to 6pm and Saturday November 2^nd from 8am-2pm at your counties’ designated voting location.  Polls at precincts will be open from 7am-7pm on Tuesday November 5^th.  There is ample opportunity for a voter to cast a vote in Oklahoma.

     "The right to vote is the crown jewel of American liberties and we will not see its luster diminished," President Ronald Reagan said.  Oklahomans should cherish their right to vote and faithfully exercise it.