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The Carnegie Herald
Wednesday, October 5, 2016
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The Carnegie Herald
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STATEQUESTIONS
Seven state questions will appear on the Nov. 8 general election ballot. Legislative
Referendums are placed on the ballot by the Oklahoma Legislature. Initiative
Petitions are placed on the ballot by gathering signatures from citizens. Each
question is reprinted here as it will appear on the ballot followed by a brief summary.
Death Penalty
STATEQUESTION
STATE QUESTION NO. 776
LEGISLATIVE REFERENDUM NO. 367
776
This measure adds a new section to the Oklahoma Constitution, Section 9A of Article 2.
The new Section deals with the death penalty. The Section establishes State constitutional
mandates relating to the death penalty and methods of execution. Under these
constitutional requirements:
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prohibited by the United States Constitution.
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invalid.
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in force until it can be carried out using any valid execution method, and
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unusual punishment under Oklahomas Constitution, nor to contravene any provision of the
Oklahoma Constitution.
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Education Funding Tax
STATEQUESTION
INITIATIVE PETITION NO. 403
779
This measure adds a new Article to the Oklahoma Constitution. The article creates a limited
purpose fund to increase funding for public education. It increases State sales and use
taxes by one cent per dollar to provide revenue for the fund. The revenue to be used for
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institutions under the authority of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, 3.25%
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raise teacher salaries by at least $5,000 over the salaries paid in the year prior to adoption
of this measure. It requires an annual audit of school districts use of monies. It prohibits
school districts use of these funds for increasing superintendents salaries or adding
superintendent positions. It requires that monies from the fund not supplant or replace other
educational funding. If the Oklahoma Board of Equalization determines funding has been
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SUMMARY: State Question 776 does two things: it addresses the

method of execution for an inmate on death row, and it states that the
death penalty shall not be deemed cruel and unusual punishment. If the
proposal is approved, a new section would be added to the Oklahoma
Constitution that allows the state to continue to impose the death
penalty, even if a specific method of execution becomes unavailable.
Death sentences would remain in effect until they can be carried out by
any method not prohibited by the US Constitution.
If approved, the constitutional amendment would apply to the state
constitution but not the federal constitution or courts applying federal
law.
The Oklahoma death penalty law, enacted in 1976, has been
consistently applied by Oklahoma elected officials: the state executed
191 men and three women between 1915 and 2014 at the Oklahoma
State Penitentiary (82 by electrocution, one by hanging, and 111 by
lethal injection). Statutes specifically allow gas inhalation, electrocution,
and firing squad as backups to the primary form of execution by lethal
injection.
In October 2015, Oklahoma suspended executions for a review of
lethal injection protocols. One of the drugs most commonly used for
lethal injection is sodium thiopental, which is no longer manufactured
in the United States. In 2011, the European Commission imposed
restrictions on the export of certain drugs used for lethal injections in
the United States.
As a result, many states no longer have the drugs used to carry out
lethal injection. Oklahoma has turned to other drugs as a substitute
for sodium thiopental. However, recent instances of executions around
the country in which alternative drugs were used may have produced
adverse outcomes.
The death penalty is legal in thirty-one states, and illegal in nineteen.
Agriculture
STATEQUESTION
777
This measure adds Section 38 to Article II of the Oklahoma Constitution. The new Section
creates state constitutional rights. It creates the following guaranteed rights to engage in
farming and ranching:
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These constitutional rights receive extra protection under this measure that not all
constitutional rights receive. This extra protection is a limit on lawmakers ability to interfere
with the exercise of these rights. Under this extra protection, no law can interfere with
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state interest of the highest order. Additionally, the law must be necessary to serve that
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to and do not impact state laws related to:
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SUMMARY: If the proposal is approved, the measure would prevent

lawmakers from passing legislation to regulate agriculture unless there
is a compelling state interest. The proposal would forbid the state of
Oklahoma from regulating the use of agricultural technology, livestock
procedures, and ranching practices. The standard of compelling state
interest is a key component to the question because it sets a very high
standard for a law to be judged.
If passed, the proposal would apply to any democratically elected
body that can trace its creation to the state legislature, including county
and city governments, but not school boards. Federal laws would not
be impacted; current state laws about farming and ranching would
be grandfathered in, and would not be repealed by this amendment.
Grandfathered laws could be amended or repealed in the future.
Similar proposals have been presented to voters in other states, first
in North Dakota. A similar amendment passed in Missouri in 2014;
another amendment was considered in Nebraska earlier this year but
was not approved by legislators for a vote of the people. Oklahomas
State Question 777 is inspired in part by opponents of Proposition 2 in
California. Proposition 2 required certain farm animals to be able to lie
down, stand up, fully extend limbs, and turn around freely. SQ 777 is
unique in that it added the compelling state interest clause.
Oklahomas top agricultural products in revenue are cattle, hogs,
poultry, wheat, and dairy. Agriculture is the states fourteenth highest
economic sector, accounting for less than 2 percent of GDP, (higher
than agricultures national rate). For decades, as technology and yields
have advanced, the number of agricultural jobs and farms has declined.
Nine in ten Oklahoma crop and animal operations are owned by private
citizens, many of whom contract with larger corporations.
SUMMARY: If this proposal is approved, Article 8-C would be

added to the Oklahoma Constitution creating a limited purpose
fundthe Education Improvement Fund.
An increase of the sales and use tax by one cent on the dollar
would provide revenue for the fund. School districts that benefit
from the fund would be subject to an annual audit. Funds
generated by the tax cannot be used to replace other state funding
of common, higher, career and technology, and early childhood
education.
The provisions of the new article require a minimum $5,000
salary increase for teachers over the salaries paid in the year prior
to adoption. The funds generated would not be used to increase
the salaries of school superintendents or to add superintendent
positions.
Oklahomas average compensation for teachers, including salary
and benefits, is $44,921. According to the National Education
Association, Oklahoma ranks 49th in the nation in teacher pay.
A section within the new article to the state constitution
establishes that monies collected would be distributed as follows:
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> 86.33 percent of common education funding would be used
to provide teachers with a minimum $5,000 raise and otherwise
address or prevent teacher and certified instruction staff shortages.
to adopt or expand, but not maintain, programs, opportunities
or reforms for improving reading in early grades, improving
high school graduation rates, and increasing college and career
readiness.
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Law Enforcement
STATEQUESTION
780
This measure amends existing Oklahoma laws and would change the classication of
certain drug possession and property crimes from felony to misdemeanor. It would make
possession of a limited quantity of drugs a misdemeanor. The amendment also changes
the classication of certain drug possession crimes which are currently considered
felonies and cases where the defendant has a prior drug possession conviction. The
proposed amendment would reclassify these drug possession cases as misdemeanors.
The amendment would increase the threshold dollar amount used for determining whether
certain property crimes are considered a felony or misdemeanor. Currently, the threshold
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by this change include; false declaration of a pawn ticket, embezzlement, larceny, grand
larceny, theft, receiving or concealing stolen property, taking domesticated sh or game,
fraud, forgery, counterfeiting, or issuing bogus checks. This measure would become
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Criminal Rehabilitation
STATEQUESTION
This measure creates the County Community Safety Investment Fund, only if voters
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create a fund, consisting of any calculated savings or averted costs that accrued to the
State from the implementation of the Oklahoma Smart Justice Reform Act in reclassifying
certain property crimes and drug possession as misdemeanors. The measure requires the
Ofce of Management and Enterprise Services to use either actual data or its best estimate
to determine how much money was saved on a yearly basis. The amount determined
to be saved must be deposited into the Fund and distributed to counties in proportion to
their population to provide community rehabilitative programs, such as mental health and
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the Oklahoma Smart Justice Reform Act, is not approved by the people. The measure will
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SUMMARY: The implementation of State Question 781 is contingent

on the passage of State Question 780. If SQ 781 is approved by voters, but
SQ 780 is not, none of the changes described in SQ 781 will be enacted.
If both measures are approved, SQ 781 would create the County
Community Safety Investment Fund. That fund would hold any cost
savings achieved by reducing numbers of people incarcerateda
decrease resulting from reclassifying certain property crimes and drug
possession as misdemeanors. The new Investment Fund would be a
revolving fund not subject to fiscal year limitations. Any savings or
averted costs would be calculated by the Office of Management and
Enterprise Services.
If savings are determined, the legislature would be required
to appropriate that amount from the general fund to the County
Community Safety Investment Fund.
The money must be used for county rehabilitative programs, including
those that address mental health and substance abuse, or provide job
training or education. The money would be distributed to Oklahoma
counties in proportion to their population.
The Office of Management and Enterprise Services will use actual
data or make its best estimate when calculating cost savings per year.
Its calculation would be final and would not be adjusted because of
subsequent changes in underlying data.
The intent of SQ 781 is to focus on root causes of criminal behavior
such as addiction and mental health problems, as opposed to placing
more people charged with lower-level offenses behind bars.
Religion & the State
STATEQUESTION
For more information about State Questions, see the Oklahoma Secretary of State website at
www.sos.ok.gov/gov/state_questions.aspx
790
This measure would remove Article 2, Section 5 of the Oklahoma Constitution, which
prohibits the government from using public money or property for the direct or indirect
benet of any religion or religious institution. Article 2, Section 5 has been interpreted by the
Oklahoma courts as requiring the removal of a Ten Commandments monument from the
grounds of the State Capitol. If this measure repealing Article 2, Section 5 is passed, the
government would still be required to comply with the Establishment Clause of the United
States Constitution, which is a similar constitutional provision that prevents the government
from endorsing a religion or becoming overly involved with religion.
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SUMMARY: State Question 790 addresses public funding and property

use regarding the separation of church and state. It is a proposal to
repeal a section of the states constitution. If the measure is approved,
Article 2, Section 5 of the Oklahoma Constitution would be repealed.
By removing this section, public expenditure or property use for
religious purposes would not be explicitly prohibited.
Under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution,
congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or
prohibiting the free exercise thereof.
Under the Oklahoma Constitutions Article 2, Section 5, state money
or property cannot be used directly or indirectly to support a church,
sect, denomination, or system of religion.
This state question is a response to recent controversy over display
of the Ten Commandments monument on the grounds of the
Oklahoma State Capitol. In 2009, the Ten Commandments Monument
Display Act was passed by the state legislature and, three years later, a
privately donated Ten Commandments monument was erected on the
grounds of the State Capitol. Lawsuits followed, and by June 2015, the
Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled the monuments placement on state
property was unconstitutional, ordering that it be removed. The basis
for the courts decision was Article 2, Section 5 of the Oklahoma State
Constitution. In October 2015, Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin called
on the legislature to repeal that section of the state constitution in order
to allow the monument at the State Capitol.
SUMMARY: If the measure is approved, State Question 780 would reclassify certain offenses, such as simple drug possession and property
crimes, as misdemeanors rather than felonies. The reclassification of
the drug possession offense is intended to be applied to persons who
use the drugs, not to those who are selling or manufacturing the drugs.
The measure also would change the dollar amount threshold for property crimes charged as felonies from $500 to $1,000.
The goal of this measure is to reduce the size of the states prison
population and to reduce the amount of state funds being spent on
prisons. SQ 780 proposes to change Oklahoma statutes, not the constitution.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Justice in 2014, Oklahoma had
the second highest incarceration rate in the nation at 700 inmates per
100,000 U.S. residents. Oklahoma also had the highest incarceration
rate for women that year. The total correctional population of a state
includes people incarcerated and on probation or parole.
The Oklahoma Department of Corrections indicated in August
2016 that the prison system was at 104 percent of its capacity with
27,097 inmates being held. Drug offenders comprise 26.3 percent of inmates. Another 23.3 percent of inmates are imprisoned for other nonviolent crimes. According to the Oklahoma DOC 2015 annual report,
the Oklahoma prison population has increased by 22.6 percent since
2006. In fiscal year 2016, the Oklahoma legislature appropriated $485
million to the Oklahoma Department of Corrections.
If the measure is approved, the changes proposed would not be retroactive. Sentences for current inmates would not change.
781
Alcohol
STATEQUESTION
792
This measure repeals Article 28 of the Oklahoma Constitution and restructures the laws
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will create if the measure passes. The new Article 28A provides that with exceptions,
a person or company can have an ownership interest in only one area of the alcoholic
beverage business-manufacturing, wholesaling, or retailing. Some restrictions apply to
the sales of manufacturers, brewers, winemakers, and wholesalers. Subject to limitations,
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liquor stores, and places serving alcoholic beverages and may create other licenses.
Certain licensees must meet residency requirements. Felons cannot be licensees. The
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may impose taxes on sales. Municipalities may levy an occupation tax. If authorized, a state
lodge may sell individual alcoholic beverages for on-premises consumption but no other
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SUMMARY: If the proposal is approved, it would repeal Article 28

of the Oklahoma Constitution and replace it with Article 28A, which
restructures the laws governing alcohol. If approved, the measure will
go into effect on October 1, 2018.
Currently, under Oklahoma law, liquor stores can sell full-strength,
unrefrigerated beer but cannot sell cold beer or chilled wine. Liquor
stores can sell wine and spirits but no other items. Grocery and
convenience stores can sell cold low-point beer (3.2 percent alcohol by
weight) but not spirits, wine, or high-point beer.
State Question 792 would change the current alcohol laws to allow
grocery, convenience, and drug stores to sell cold, high-point beer (up
to 8.99 percent alcohol by volume) and wine (up to 15 percent alcohol
by volume). Liquor stores would be allowed to sell cold beer and any
item that also may be purchased in a grocery store or convenience
storeexcept motor fuelin limited amounts. Liquor or spirits will
still only be available for purchase from licensed retail liquor stores.
or the Oklahoma State Election Board website at

www.ok.gov/elections/Election_Info/State_Question_info.html.
Property of OPS News Tracker and members of the Oklahoma Press Association.
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BY DAVID BLATT
Oklahoma Policy Institute
Oklahoma voters will

decide seven state questions in November on
subjects ranging from
agriculture to the death
penalty to the use of
public funds for religious purposes. Of the
seven questions, three
were placed on the ballot through the initiative
petition process, while
four were referred to the
ballot by the Legislature.
What does history suggest about the likely outcome of this years ballot
measures? OK Policy
looked at the results of
all state questions in
Oklahoma since 1989
using data collected by
Ballotpedia. The results
are rather surprising.
Of the 83 state questions
submitted to the voters
in the past 25 years fewer
than one in four have
been rejected.
Within this overall tendency to approve ballot
measures, two signicant
patterns stand out. First,
voters have been much
more supportive of ballot
measures referred by the
Legislature than citizenled initiative petitions.
Eighty-four percent of
legislatively-referred ballot measures have been
approved (60 out of 71),
compared to just 42 percent of measures put on
the ballot through the petition process (5 out of 12).

Secondly, voters have
become much more supportive of state questions
in recent years. From
1989-2002, 67 percent of
ballot measures (30 out
of 45) passed; since 2004,
only three of 38 measures
have been defeated, for a
success rate of 92 percent.
Of the three measures
defeated since 2002, two
were initiative petitions
SQ 723, which proposed
an increase in the fuel
tax, and SQ 744, which
would have required education to be funded at the
regional average.
The only legislativelyreferred state question to
be defeated since 2004 was
SQ 754 in 2010, a defensive
measure that was placed
on the ballot as an effort to
counteract SQ 744 by stating that the Legislature
would not be required to
make funding decisions
based on a formula.
One might well imagine that voters instincts
would be to vote no on
ballot measures, especially in the frequent
instances where the questions are obscure, confusing, or controversial.
Instead, the results show
the exact opposite tendency: Oklahoma voters
seem to trust the Legislature to put before them
measures that are worth
approving. This has been
6:268SK\VLFVVFKRODUVKLS
FDPSDLJQODXQFKHG
especially true since 2004,

during the era of growing Republican legislative
dominance. At the same
time, voters have been
much more skeptical in
regards to citizen-initiated petitions, which have
been rejected more than
half the time since 1989.
Several of the defeated
measures called for tax
increases.
The only outright tax
increase that the voters
have approved since 1989
was SQ 712, a tobacco tax
increase approved in 2004
that was referred by the
Legislature. That year,
the voters also approved
legislatively-referred
questions allowing a state
ate
lottery and gaming commpacts that were similar to
initiative petition measures that were defeated
d
in the 1990s.
So what, if anything,
does this portend for the
e
measures on the ballot in
November? If history is a
guide, the four legislative
ve
referenda on the death
th
penalty (SQ 776), the
Right to Farm (SQ 777),
allowing public dollars
for religious purposes
(SQ 790) and alcohol law
reforms (SQ 792) would
all be favored to pass.
Meanwhile, the three
questions that made it
to the ballot via initiative petition the sales
tax increase for education (SQ 779) and the two
criminal justice reform
measures (SQ 780 & SQ
781) face tougher odds.
But perhaps Oklahoma
voters will buck history
this year.
Catoosa Independent
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The Elk City Daily News
Page 4 , S e c ti o n B
E l k C ity N ews E lk Ci ty, O k l ah om a
S unday, S ep tem ber 2 5 , 2 0 16
SUMMARY OF
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STATEQUESTIONS
Seven state questions will appear on the Nov. 8 general election ballot. Legislative
Referendums are placed on the ballot by the Oklahoma Legislature. Initiative
Petitions are placed on the ballot by gathering signatures from citizens. Each
question is reprinted here as it will appear on the ballot followed by a brief summary.

Death Penalty
STATEQUESTION
Education Funding Tax
STATEQUESTION



This measure adds a new section to the Oklahoma Constitution, Section 9A of Article 2.
The new Section deals with the death penalty. The Section establishes State constitutional
mandates relating to the death penalty and methods of execution. Under these
constitutional requirements:
The Legislature is expressly empowered to designate any method of execution not
prohibited by the United States Constitution.
Death sentences shall not be reduced because a method of execution is ruled to be
invalid.
When an execution method is declared invalid, the death penalty imposed shall remain
in force until it can be carried out using any valid execution method, and
The imposition of a death penalty under Oklahoma lawas distinguished from a
method of executionshall not be deemed to be or constitute the iniction of cruel or
unusual punishment under Oklahomas Constitution, nor to contravene any provision of the
FOR THE PROPOSAL YES
This measure adds a new Article to the Oklahoma Constitution. The article creates a limited
purpose fund to increase funding for public education. It increases State sales and use
taxes by one cent per dollar to provide revenue for the fund. The revenue to be used for
public education shall be allocated: 69.50% for common school districts, 19.25% for the
institutions under the authority of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, 3.25%
for the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education, and 8% for the State
Department of Education. It requires teacher salary increases funded by this measure
raise teacher salaries by at least $5,000 over the salaries paid in the year prior to adoption
of this measure. It requires an annual audit of school districts use of monies. It prohibits
school districts use of these funds for increasing superintendents salaries or adding
superintendent positions. It requires that monies from the fund not supplant or replace other
educational funding. If the Oklahoma Board of Equalization determines funding has been
replaced, the Legislature may not make any appropriations until the amount of replaced
funding is returned to the fund. The article takes effect on July 1 after its passage.
AGAINST THE PROPOSAL NO
SUMMARY: State Question 776 does two things: it addresses the

method of execution for an inmate on death row, and it states that the
death penalty shall not be deemed cruel and unusual punishment. If the
proposal is approved, a new section would be added to the Oklahoma
Constitution that allows the state to continue to impose the death
penalty, even if a specific method of execution becomes unavailable.
Death sentences would remain in effect until they can be carried out by
any method not prohibited by the US Constitution.
If approved, the constitutional amendment would apply to the state
constitution but not the federal constitution or courts applying federal
law.
The Oklahoma death penalty law, enacted in 1976, has been
consistently applied by Oklahoma elected officials: the state executed
191 men and three women between 1915 and 2014 at the Oklahoma
State Penitentiary (82 by electrocution, one by hanging, and 111 by
lethal injection). Statutes specifically allow gas inhalation, electrocution,
and firing squad as backups to the primary form of execution by lethal
injection.
In October 2015, Oklahoma suspended executions for a review of
lethal injection protocols. One of the drugs most commonly used for
lethal injection is sodium thiopental, which is no longer manufactured
in the United States. In 2011, the European Commission imposed
restrictions on the export of certain drugs used for lethal injections in
the United States.
As a result, many states no longer have the drugs used to carry out
lethal injection. Oklahoma has turned to other drugs as a substitute
for sodium thiopental. However, recent instances of executions around
the country in which alternative drugs were used may have produced
adverse outcomes.
The death penalty is legal in thirty-one states, and illegal in nineteen.

Agriculture
STATEQUESTION
This measure adds Section 38 to Article II of the Oklahoma Constitution. The new Section
creates state constitutional rights. It creates the following guaranteed rights to engage in
farming and ranching:
The right to make use of agricultural technology,
The right to make use of livestock procedures, and
The right to make use of ranching practices.
These constitutional rights receive extra protection under this measure that not all
constitutional rights receive. This extra protection is a limit on lawmakers ability to interfere
with the exercise of these rights. Under this extra protection, no law can interfere with
these rights, unless the law is justied by a compelling state interesta clearly identied
state interest of the highest order. Additionally, the law must be necessary to serve that
compelling state interest. The measureand the protections identied abovedo not apply
to and do not impact state laws related to:
Trespass,
Eminent domain,
Dominance of mineral interests,
Easements,
Right of way or other property rights, and
Any state statutes and political subdivision ordinances enacted before December 31,
2014.
SUMMARY: If the proposal is approved, the measure would prevent

lawmakers from passing legislation to regulate agriculture unless there
is a compelling state interest. The proposal would forbid the state of
Oklahoma from regulating the use of agricultural technology, livestock
procedures, and ranching practices. The standard of compelling state
interest is a key component to the question because it sets a very high
standard for a law to be judged.
If passed, the proposal would apply to any democratically elected
body that can trace its creation to the state legislature, including county
and city governments, but not school boards. Federal laws would not
be impacted; current state laws about farming and ranching would
be grandfathered in, and would not be repealed by this amendment.
Grandfathered laws could be amended or repealed in the future.
Similar proposals have been presented to voters in other states, first
in North Dakota. A similar amendment passed in Missouri in 2014;
another amendment was considered in Nebraska earlier this year but
was not approved by legislators for a vote of the people. Oklahomas
State Question 777 is inspired in part by opponents of Proposition 2 in
California. Proposition 2 required certain farm animals to be able to lie
down, stand up, fully extend limbs, and turn around freely. SQ 777 is
unique in that it added the compelling state interest clause.
Oklahomas top agricultural products in revenue are cattle, hogs,
poultry, wheat, and dairy. Agriculture is the states fourteenth highest
economic sector, accounting for less than 2 percent of GDP, (higher
than agricultures national rate). For decades, as technology and yields
have advanced, the number of agricultural jobs and farms has declined.
Nine in ten Oklahoma crop and animal operations are owned by private
citizens, many of whom contract with larger corporations.
SUMMARY: If this proposal is approved, Article 8-C would be

added to the Oklahoma Constitution creating a limited purpose
fundthe Education Improvement Fund.
An increase of the sales and use tax by one cent on the dollar
would provide revenue for the fund. School districts that benefit
from the fund would be subject to an annual audit. Funds
generated by the tax cannot be used to replace other state funding
of common, higher, career and technology, and early childhood
education.
The provisions of the new article require a minimum $5,000
salary increase for teachers over the salaries paid in the year prior
to adoption. The funds generated would not be used to increase
the salaries of school superintendents or to add superintendent
positions.
Oklahomas average compensation for teachers, including salary
and benefits, is $44,921. According to the National Education
Association, Oklahoma ranks 49th in the nation in teacher pay.
A section within the new article to the state constitution
establishes that monies collected would be distributed as follows:
69.5 percent to common education
to provide teachers with a minimum $5,000 raise and otherwise
address or prevent teacher and certified instruction staff shortages.
to adopt or expand, but not maintain, programs, opportunities
or reforms for improving reading in early grades, improving
high school graduation rates, and increasing college and career
readiness.
19.25 percent to higher education
3.25 percent to career and technology education
8 percent to early childhood education
Law Enforcement
STATEQUESTION


This measure amends existing Oklahoma laws and would change the classication of
certain drug possession and property crimes from felony to misdemeanor. It would make
possession of a limited quantity of drugs a misdemeanor. The amendment also changes
the classication of certain drug possession crimes which are currently considered
felonies and cases where the defendant has a prior drug possession conviction. The
proposed amendment would reclassify these drug possession cases as misdemeanors.
The amendment would increase the threshold dollar amount used for determining whether
certain property crimes are considered a felony or misdemeanor. Currently, the threshold
is $500. The amendment would increase the amount to $1000. Property crimes covered
by this change include; false declaration of a pawn ticket, embezzlement, larceny, grand
larceny, theft, receiving or concealing stolen property, taking domesticated sh or game,
fraud, forgery, counterfeiting, or issuing bogus checks. This measure would become
effective July 1, 2017.
Criminal Rehabilitation
STATEQUESTION


This measure creates the County Community Safety Investment Fund, only if voters
approve State Question 780, the Oklahoma Smart Justice Reform Act. This measure would
create a fund, consisting of any calculated savings or averted costs that accrued to the
State from the implementation of the Oklahoma Smart Justice Reform Act in reclassifying
certain property crimes and drug possession as misdemeanors. The measure requires the
Ofce of Management and Enterprise Services to use either actual data or its best estimate
to determine how much money was saved on a yearly basis. The amount determined
to be saved must be deposited into the Fund and distributed to counties in proportion to
their population to provide community rehabilitative programs, such as mental health and
substance abuse services. This measure will not become effective if State Question 780,
the Oklahoma Smart Justice Reform Act, is not approved by the people. The measure will
become effective on July 1 immediately following its passage.
SUMMARY: The implementation of State Question 781 is contingent

on the passage of State Question 780. If SQ 781 is approved by voters, but
SQ 780 is not, none of the changes described in SQ 781 will be enacted.
If both measures are approved, SQ 781 would create the County
Community Safety Investment Fund. That fund would hold any cost
savings achieved by reducing numbers of people incarcerateda
decrease resulting from reclassifying certain property crimes and drug
possession as misdemeanors. The new Investment Fund would be a
revolving fund not subject to fiscal year limitations. Any savings or
averted costs would be calculated by the Office of Management and
Enterprise Services.
If savings are determined, the legislature would be required
to appropriate that amount from the general fund to the County
Community Safety Investment Fund.
The money must be used for county rehabilitative programs, including
those that address mental health and substance abuse, or provide job
training or education. The money would be distributed to Oklahoma
counties in proportion to their population.
The Office of Management and Enterprise Services will use actual
data or make its best estimate when calculating cost savings per year.
Its calculation would be final and would not be adjusted because of
subsequent changes in underlying data.
The intent of SQ 781 is to focus on root causes of criminal behavior
such as addiction and mental health problems, as opposed to placing
more people charged with lower-level offenses behind bars.
Religion & the State
STATEQUESTION


This measure would remove Article 2, Section 5 of the Oklahoma Constitution, which
prohibits the government from using public money or property for the direct or indirect
benet of any religion or religious institution. Article 2, Section 5 has been interpreted by the
Oklahoma courts as requiring the removal of a Ten Commandments monument from the
grounds of the State Capitol. If this measure repealing Article 2, Section 5 is passed, the
government would still be required to comply with the Establishment Clause of the United
States Constitution, which is a similar constitutional provision that prevents the government
from endorsing a religion or becoming overly involved with religion.
SUMMARY: State Question 790 addresses public funding and property

use regarding the separation of church and state. It is a proposal to
repeal a section of the states constitution. If the measure is approved,
Article 2, Section 5 of the Oklahoma Constitution would be repealed.
By removing this section, public expenditure or property use for
religious purposes would not be explicitly prohibited.
Under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution,
congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or
prohibiting the free exercise thereof.
Under the Oklahoma Constitutions Article 2, Section 5, state money
or property cannot be used directly or indirectly to support a church,
sect, denomination, or system of religion.
This state question is a response to recent controversy over display
of the Ten Commandments monument on the grounds of the
Oklahoma State Capitol. In 2009, the Ten Commandments Monument
Display Act was passed by the state legislature and, three years later, a
privately donated Ten Commandments monument was erected on the
grounds of the State Capitol. Lawsuits followed, and by June 2015, the
Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled the monuments placement on state
property was unconstitutional, ordering that it be removed. The basis
for the courts decision was Article 2, Section 5 of the Oklahoma State
Constitution. In October 2015, Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin called
on the legislature to repeal that section of the state constitution in order
to allow the monument at the State Capitol.
SUMMARY: If the measure is approved, State Question 780 would reclassify certain offenses, such as simple drug possession and property
crimes, as misdemeanors rather than felonies. The reclassification of
the drug possession offense is intended to be applied to persons who
use the drugs, not to those who are selling or manufacturing the drugs.
The measure also would change the dollar amount threshold for property crimes charged as felonies from $500 to $1,000.
The goal of this measure is to reduce the size of the states prison
population and to reduce the amount of state funds being spent on
prisons. SQ 780 proposes to change Oklahoma statutes, not the constitution.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Justice in 2014, Oklahoma had
the second highest incarceration rate in the nation at 700 inmates per
100,000 U.S. residents. Oklahoma also had the highest incarceration
rate for women that year. The total correctional population of a state
includes people incarcerated and on probation or parole.
The Oklahoma Department of Corrections indicated in August
2016 that the prison system was at 104 percent of its capacity with
27,097 inmates being held. Drug offenders comprise 26.3 percent of inmates. Another 23.3 percent of inmates are imprisoned for other nonviolent crimes. According to the Oklahoma DOC 2015 annual report,
the Oklahoma prison population has increased by 22.6 percent since
2006. In fiscal year 2016, the Oklahoma legislature appropriated $485
million to the Oklahoma Department of Corrections.
If the measure is approved, the changes proposed would not be retroactive. Sentences for current inmates would not change.
For more information about State Questions, see the Oklahoma Secretary of State website at
www.sos.ok.gov/gov/state_questions.aspx
Alcohol
STATEQUESTION


This measure repeals Article 28 of the Oklahoma Constitution and restructures the laws
governing alcoholic beverages through a new Article 28A and other laws the Legislature
will create if the measure passes. The new Article 28A provides that with exceptions,
a person or company can have an ownership interest in only one area of the alcoholic
beverage business-manufacturing, wholesaling, or retailing. Some restrictions apply to
the sales of manufacturers, brewers, winemakers, and wholesalers. Subject to limitations,
the Legislature may authorize direct shipments to consumers of wine. Retail locations like
grocery stores may sell wine and beer. Liquor stores may sell products other than alcoholic
beverages in limited amounts. The Legislature must create licenses for retail locations,
liquor stores, and places serving alcoholic beverages and may create other licenses.
Certain licensees must meet residency requirements. Felons cannot be licensees. The
Legislature must designate days and hours when alcoholic beverages may be sold and
may impose taxes on sales. Municipalities may levy an occupation tax. If authorized, a state
lodge may sell individual alcoholic beverages for on-premises consumption but no other
state involvement in the alcoholic beverage business is allowed. With one exception, the
measure will take effect October 1, 2018.
SUMMARY: If the proposal is approved, it would repeal Article 28

of the Oklahoma Constitution and replace it with Article 28A, which
restructures the laws governing alcohol. If approved, the measure will
go into effect on October 1, 2018.
Currently, under Oklahoma law, liquor stores can sell full-strength,
unrefrigerated beer but cannot sell cold beer or chilled wine. Liquor
stores can sell wine and spirits but no other items. Grocery and
convenience stores can sell cold low-point beer (3.2 percent alcohol by
weight) but not spirits, wine, or high-point beer.
State Question 792 would change the current alcohol laws to allow
grocery, convenience, and drug stores to sell cold, high-point beer (up
to 8.99 percent alcohol by volume) and wine (up to 15 percent alcohol
by volume). Liquor stores would be allowed to sell cold beer and any
item that also may be purchased in a grocery store or convenience
storeexcept motor fuelin limited amounts. Liquor or spirits will
still only be available for purchase from licensed retail liquor stores.
or the Oklahoma State Election Board website at

www.ok.gov/elections/Election_Info/State_Question_info.html.
The Hinton Record
Oct
05
2016
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Cattlemans VP Says SQ
777 Will Trump Water Law
WEATHERFORD, Okla.
Another supporter of State
Question 777 has acknowledged troubling problems with
the proposed constitutional
amendment by admitting to a
Weatherford audience this
week that the measure does not
guarantee protection of local
water quality.
As reported Sept. 24 by the
Weatherford Daily News,
Michael Kelsey, executive vice
president and lobbyist for the
Oklahoma
Cattlemans
Association told an audience
gathered at the Weatherford
Public Library that 777 would
roll back the legislatures
attempt to fix a glaring flaw in
the proposed amendment.
According to the newspaper,
Kelsey said the language of
SQ 777 would render recent
legislation declaring clean
water a compelling state interest moot as it applies to the
Right to Farm.
Additionally, the newspaper
reported, Kelsey also said
the legislations move to declare
clean water a compelling state
interest will no longer be legally
binding as it applies to agriculture.
Kelseys admission follows
closely on the heels of a similar
admission by Tom Buchanan,
president of the insurance giant
Oklahoma Farm Bureau, when
he spoke to the Norman
Chamber of Commerce this
earlier month. According to the
Norman Transcript, Buchanan
told the group when it comes to
SQ 777s ballot language

regarding compelling state
interest, I wish that language
werent in three.
Compelling state interest is
a legal term applied to fundamental rights protected by
strict scrutiny and is generally
associated with constitutional
rights such as freedom of
speech and religion and not
with local water and air quality.
Many legal experts in
Oklahoma have said that requiring compelling state interest is
one of SQ 777s dangerous
flaws.
SQ 777 is not simply a bad
law, its an amendment to our
state constitution and were
bound to it if its passed, said
Bud Scott, head of the opposition group Oklahomans for
Food, Farm and Family.
Considering Oklahoma farmers already have a right to farm,
Scott said Kelsey and
Buchanans admissions confirm
SQ 777 is a risky, unnecessary
measure with dangerous implications.
"SQ 777 poses serious legal
problems for state and local

governments to protect local
water quality, Scott said, and
it does nothing to preserve generational farming since our
farmers already have, and
always will have a right to farm.
SQ 777 gives a blank check to
multinational corporations that
industrialize farm and impact
and use our natural resources
like water.
For more information, visit
www.okfoodfarmfamily.com.
In addition to Oklahomans for
Food Farm and Family, the
following
organizations
oppose SQ 777: the Inter-Tribal
Council of the Five Civilized
Tribes,
the
Oklahoma
Municipal League, the League
of Women Voters, numerous
city councils across Oklahoma,
the Association of Central
Oklahoma Governments, Save
the Illinois River, Conservation
Coalition of Oklahoma, Bella
Foundation, Oklahoma Food
Cooperative, Sierra Club,
Oklahoma Welfare League,
Oklahoma
Stewardship
Council and many others.
Dr. Tim Nelson

Optometrist
www.eyedocnelson.com
(580) 623-5073
$99 Specials on Single Vision with Select
Frames
LIBERTY THEATRE
of OPS News Tracker and members of the Oklahoma Press Association.
& Thursday
Wednesday Property
The Leader Tribune
Capital Conversations
Oct
05
2016
Page
0002
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by Casey Murdock
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Okmulgee Times
Oct
05
2016
Page
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e Department Runs
County
Republicans
hosting open
meeting on several
state questions
The Oct. 11 meeting of the Okmulgee County
Republicans will feature guest speakers covering the
VOTE NO side of State Question 777 (Right to Farm)
and State Question 779 (1 cent sales tax). There will
also be a speaker on why a NO vote is needed on
whether to retain two Oklahoma Supreme Court justices. You DO NOT have to be registered Republican
to attend. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. in the OSUIT
Student Union Okmulgee Conference Room - located at 1801 E 4th St. in Okmulgee.
Speakers present at the meeting include:
Brian Jones Kirkpatrick Foundation NO on
State Question 777 (Right to Farm)
Brian Ted Jones is a lawyer and director of education
for Kirkpatrick Foundation. He was born in 1984 and
raised in the towns of Talihina and Red Oak,
Oklahoma. He's a graduate of St. John's College and
holds a law degree from the University of Oklahoma.
He lives with his wife, Jenne, and their sons, Oscar and
GuyJack.
Kirkpatrick Foundation, founded in 1955 by John
and Eleanor Kirkpatrick, is a private foundation located in Oklahoma City. The philanthropy funds arts, culture, education, animal wellbeing, environmental conservation, and historic preservation nonprofit organizations, distributing approximately $3 million annually
in grants and charitable activities.
Robert Aery NO on State Question 779 (1 cent
sales tax)
Robert Aery is the Deputy State Director of
Americans for Prosperity in Oklahoma, a non-profit
organization dedicated to the advancement of economic freedom in the public policy process. At AFP-OK,
Robert manages the state chapters policy agenda, field
program, media and community outreach, and daily
operations.
Robert is a native Tulsan and currently resides in the
Tulsa metro area with his wife, Julia, who is a public
school teacher.
Robert is an attorney licensed to practice in
Oklahoma. He earned a law degree (J.D.) from the
University Of Tulsa College Of Law, with a Certificate
in Sustainable Energy and Resources Law. At Tulsa
Law, Robert was a member and editor for the
University of Tulsa Energy Law Journal. He also has
experience in party committee leadership, lobbying,
grassroots strategy and training, public relations, political consultation, legal writing, non-profit management, and issue advocacy. He is a regular contributor
to Townhall.com and other media outlets.
Bill McArthur Oklahoma Supreme Court
Justices
Bill McArthur is a retired engineer. He will be
speaking on the Oklahoma judicial appointment and
retention process, and the makeup and voting record of
the OK Supreme Court, and our opportunity in 2016 to
unseat (DO NOT RETAIN) two of them.
While Oklahoma is considered the reddest of the
red states, and been conservative Republican for
years, our liberal Supreme Court has overturned multiple laws limiting abortion and ruled the display of the
10 Commandments unconstitutional under the
Free pop for college students/instructors with student
ID.
Oct 2016 Page

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Stillwater NewsPress
Voter registration deadline nears

By Kieran Steckley
ksteckley@stwnewspress.com
The deadline for voter

registration is fast apporaching.
Oklahoma residents
have until Oct. 14 to register to vote.
Those who are 18 or
older and a resident of
the United States and
Oklahoma can register
to vote in the Nov. 8
election.
Registration requires
filling out a form and

turning it in to the
State Election Board.
When the application
is approved, the county
election board will mail a
voter identification card
to the address on the application. The card will
have personal information on it as well as the
voting precinct. More information, including an
application, can be found
at https://www.ok.gov/
elections/Voter_Info/Reg-
ister_to_Vote/index.html.
Sample ballots can
also be viewed online.
A convicted felon may
not register for a period equal to the time of
the original sentence. A
convicted felon who has
been pardoned may register, according to the
Oklahoma State election
board. Those who have
been judged by a court to
be incapacitated cannot
register to vote.
Applications for ab-
sentee ballots are also

available on the Oklahoma State Election Board
website. If doing so by
mail, the absentee ballot
will be mailed by 5 p.m.
on Wednesday preceding
the election. The ballot
must be received by the
county election board
before 7 p.m. on election
day to be counted.
Payne County residents must be registered
See Register, Page A5
W
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Oct 2016 Page

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Stillwater NewsPress
Register
ontinued from Page A1
vote in Payne County
r the county clerk race.
lenna Craig, Stillwater
epublican, is the inumbent. Linda Andre,
emocrat of Cushing, is
he challenger.
State House District
3 will also be decided
ov. 8. Caryl Talley,
emocrat of Stillwater,
reg Babinec, Republian of Cushing, and Erin
dams, Libertarian of
lencoe, are vying for
he seat.
For president, Donald
rump and Mike Pence
re the Republican pair.
illary Clinton and Tim
aine are the Democratticket. The only other
party on the ballot in

Oklahoma is the Libertarian Party, represented by Gary Johnson and
Bill Weld.
Voters will also decide
on the handful state
questions, listed below:
s31nPROVIDES
constitutional language
to enforce the death penalty as long as the execution isnt prohibited by
the United States Constitution, that the death
penalty is not cruel and
unusual punishment;
s31nALSOKNOWN
as Right to Farm, creating constitutional rights
for agriculture practices,
which would essentially
limit outside attempts at
regulations;
s31nTHE0ENNY
Sales Tax, would fund
education, which include
teacher raises, money
for higher education and

money for vocational and
technology education, as
well as money for grants
and early childhood programs;
s31n2EDUCES
some property crimes
and drug possession
crimes from felony to
misdemeanor;
s31n$EPENDENT
ON31WOULDTAKE
money saved from the
reduction in felonies and
create drug rehabilitation programs;
s31n2EPEALS
a part of the state constitution, would allow public money to be spent on
religious purposes;
s31n!LLOWS
grocery stores and convenience stores to sell
strong beer and wine.
Twitter: @Kieran_
Steckley
Oct 2016 Page

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The Sayre Record & Beckham County Democrat
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Cattlemans VP says SQ 777

will trump water law
pr
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Another supporter of State

4XHVWLRQ KDV DFNQRZOedged troubling problems with
the proposed constitutional
amendment by admitting to
a Weatherford audience this
week that the measure does not
guarantee protection of local
water quality.
$VUHSRUWHG6HSWE\WKH
:HDWKHUIRUG 'DLO\ 1HZV 0Lchael Kelsey, executive vice
president and lobbyist for the
Oklahoma Cattlemans Association told an audience gathered
at the Weatherford Public LiEUDU\ WKDW ZRXOG UROO EDFN
WKH OHJLVODWXUHV DWWHPSW WR [

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amendment.
According to the newspaper,
.HOVH\ VDLG WKH ODQJXDJH
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legislation declaring clean water a compelling state interest
moot as it applies to the Right
WR)DUP
Additionally, the newspaper
UHSRUWHG .HOVH\ DOVR VDLG
the legislations move to declare clean water a compelling
state interest will no longer be
legally binding as it applies to
DJULFXOWXUH
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Woodward News
Views from across Oklahoma

Oct
05
2016
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The Journal Record

Unintended consequences
Cameras have been in the
news lately, and the conversation
invariably turns to privacy.
The Oklahoma Senate is
studying rules for unmanned aerial vehicles, better known as
drones. Not surprisingly, drone
enthusiasts, commercial users,
and manufacturers argue that
plenty of rules exist already, and
any additions should be the
purview of the Federal Aviation
Administration, not state lawmakers. Their concerns have less
to do with aerial safety than with
privacy. Drones have quickly
become a terrific way to get
cameras in the air, and the legitimate uses for that technology are
substantial. Real estate inspectors and insurance adjusters, for
example, could all but forget
rooftop peril if they could fly a
camera up to provide a high-definition look at the shingles.
Search-and-rescue operations
could become much more efficient. Emergency supplies could
be delivered quickly to remote
locations.
But the fear is that those cameras will also be used to peek.
Law enforcement agencies could
see what's in a fenced yard without bothering to get a search
warrant, and Peeping Toms
wouldn't need a ladder for a look
in a second-floor window.
In that debate, privacy is a priority.
Cameras are also being discussed this week in the wake of
Terence
Crutcher's
death.
Crutcher was shot to death by
Tulsa police officer Betty
Shelby. A dashcam recording
was made public quickly, and it
shaped the public's view of the
incident. The public, including
the prosecution and defense
attorneys, would have an even
clearer idea of what happened if
Shelby had been wearing a body
camera.
The Department of Public

Safety argued to keep a dashcam
exception to the Oklahoma Open
Records Act, but those records
finally became available to the
public last year. And since the
police shooting in Ferguson,
Missouri, law enforcement agencies have been under mounting
pressure to equip all officers
with body cameras. The recordings from those would presumably be public records too.
In that debate, transparency is
a priority.
The technological progression
of digital imagery and remote
viewing has produced realistic
concerns about privacy; no one
wants unregulated viewing of
their personal lives. It has also
provided the opportunity to
remove most of the doubt about
how a police officer's interaction
with a resident really occurred.
Legislators must carefully
consider the balance of commerce, privacy, and transparency
before they draft new laws that
could have unintended consequences.
Tulsa World
Against State Question 777
Both sides in the debate over
State Question 777 the socalled Right to Farm proposal
have been guilty of excesses in
their arguments.
The proponents have suggested that only a state constitutional
measure could shield cherished
rural values of decent working
farmers from the meddling
hands of bureaucrats and lunatic
eco-extremists.
The opponents have claimed
that, were the measure to pass,
almost any imaginable cruelty
up to and including ramming
a steel rod down a puppy's throat
to "debark" it would become
legal and have the same protection as free speech in Oklahoma.
We don't think either nightmare scenario is likely, and chalk
up the exaggerated rhetoric to

the need to get voters excited ...
and the desire to raise money.
A rational review of SQ 777
comes to these conclusions: It
solves no pressing problem in
the state, and it could create
some.
The measure would prevent
future state and local regulation
on farming and livestock activities unless the state has a compelling state interest, a very high
legal standard shared by basic
civil rights. Rules that were on
the books before Dec. 31, 2014,
and regulations in several areas
trespassing laws, for example
are exempt.
It wouldn't wipe animal cruelty laws off the books. Neither
would it effectively protect the
lifestyles of grandpa's farm. In
fact, the measure would give
enormous legal protections to
big-time corporate agriculture,
which is a greater threat to the
iconic homestead than the
Legislature.
Agriculture remains an amazingly powerful interest group at
the state Capitol, and Exhibit A
is the legislative vote to put SQ
777 on the ballot in the first
place. Frankly, farmers have little to fear from state lawmakers
messing with their business.
And when that's not true,
shouldn't the people through
their elected representatives, be
able to regulate an industry that
affects land, water and food?
You say the state shouldn't regulate those things. Why not?
The first rule of constitutional
amendments should be: First, do
no harm, and in its potential for
unintended consequences
especially in the state's ability to
protect its own environment
we fear harm in SQ 777.
Farming is very important,
but SQ 777 doesn't solve any
real Oklahoma problems, and its
potential to create new problems
in the future makes it bad policy.
Elected Officials
Yukon Review
Oct
05
2016
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Photo/Courtesy
Canadian County Democrats volunteers (from left) Susan Schmidt, Amber Meiki, Shiloh Meiki, Charles Sanchez, Cheryl
Drabek and Shirley Burton polled Czech Day visitors on their top concerns. Schmidt holds a puppet used in videos opposing State Question 777, Right to Farm.
Canadian County Dems poll

Czech Day visitors on top issues
Twenty-three percent of
Czech Festival participants
were most concerned about
public education on Oct. 1,
according to an unofficial
bean poll taken by the
Canadian County Democrats
at their booth in Yukon.
Hundreds of visitors
stopped by the Democrats
booth to drop pinto beans
into 11 slots separated by
acrylic and wood.

The bean poll is a fun way
for people to prioritize their
top concerns, Canadian
County Democrats Secretary
Shirley Burton said. We had
lines of people in front of our
booth all day long. Czech Fest
was definitely one of our most
successful events all year
long.
Democratic volunteers
reported the second most

popular issue in the bean poll
was healthcare with 18 percent. Veterans services was
third with 16 percent. Equal
pay/minimum wage increase
and better roads/bridges/public transportation tied for
fourth place with seven percent.
Three topics tied for fifth
place with six percent of the
vote: Medicare, earthquakes

and access to birth control.
Susan Schmidt brought her
puppet Peggy Piglet to advocate against State Question
777, known as Right to
Harm by opponents.
Schmidt and her husband Bill
produced four YouTube videos about problems they see
with the ballot measure that
would benefit multi-national,
corporate factories who want
to avoid legal limits on their
water pollution. Watch the
video at www.youtube.com/
watch?v=Fo46vZJzgsw.
The remaining topics in
the bean poll included wind
and solar energy with five
percent, local government
with four percent and social
services funding with two
percent.
The Canadian County
Democrats meet at 7 p.m. on
the second Tuesday of each
month, except December, at
the Yukon Police Department,
100 S. Ranchwood Blvd. For
more information, phone
326-3600 or visit www.canadiancodems.org/.
The Eufaula Indian Journal
Pro-SQ 777 statements called misleading

Oct
06
2016
Page
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The Madill Record
Local Experts Discuss Right to Farm Question for November Ballot

By Karen Maple
The Madill Record
6WDWH 4XHVWLRQ DOVR NQRZQ

as the Right to Farm is a proposed
constitution amendment that has
strong opinions on both sides. Oklahomans are faced with the challenge
of making the right decision this
November, because whether people
vote yes or no the one thing both
sides agree on is this state question
can and will have lasting effects on
our state.
The Oklahoma State Universitys
Division of Agriculture and Natural
Resources explains if voters approve
the state question, it would create an

amendment to the Oklahoma Constitution prohibiting the Oklahoma
Legislature (and
by implication,
Oklahoma state
agencies) from
enacting laws restricting agricultural production
unless such laws
were needed to
advance a compelling state interest.
According to many legal experts
in Oklahoma, those three words
DUHFRQVLGHUHGDGDQJHURXVDZLQ
647KHOHJDOWHUP&RPSHOOLQJ
VWDWHLQWHUHVWLVGHQHGE\WKH'LFtionary of Law as
a governmental
interest which is
so important that
it outweighs individual rights.
The Tulsa
9RLFH-XO\
writes It prohibits the legislature
from passing laws
that would take away the right to
employ agricultural technology and
livestock production without a com-
pelling state interest.

5HG'LUW1HZV2.&1RY
covered a meeting at the state capital with members of the Oklahoma
Stewardship Council who addressed
64 DQG YRLFHG FRQFHUQV RI WKH
wording. Former Oklahoma Attorney
General Drew Edmondson said
under the Constitution of the State
of Oklahoma any bill, initiative petition, or city ordinance will be presumed unconstitutional and it would
then be up to the legislature, people,
or municipality to prove they have a
compelling state interest, that is an
almost impossible burden.
(See SQ 777, page 4A)
Oct 2016 Page

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L OCAL AND AREA
The Madill Record
SQ 777
&RQWLQXHGIURPSDJH$
Edmondson and the council said the Right to Farm
DSSHDUHG WR EH EHQHFLDO WR
2NODKRPDDQGIDUPHUVDWDUVW
JODQFHEXWZLWKFORVHUVFUXWLQ\
WKH\IRXQGPDQ\FRQFHUQV
He said This measure would
QRWRQO\WDNHDZD\WKHSRZHURI
the legislature and municipal
governments to regulate agriFXOWXUDOSUDFWLFHVLWHIIHFWLYHO\
WDNHVDZD\WKHSRZHUWRYRWHRQ
such changes. The world of industrial agriculture is changing
with chemical additives to feed,
growth hormones, and genetic
PRGLFDWLRQV,FDQXQGHUVWDQG
ZK\WKH\ZDQWWREHIUHHIURP
VFUXWLQ\ DQG UHJXODWLRQ EXW
, FDQQRW XQGHUVWDQG ZK\ ZH
should let them.
According to Wes Saxon,
Oklahoma Farm Bureau InsurDQFH0DGLOOSHRSOHDUHPLVreading the proposed amendment. Asked how people were
misreading the term compelling state interest and if he
FRXOGEHWWHUGHQHLWKHVDLG
people will interpret things
WKHZD\WKH\ZDQWWR+HVDLG
64ZDVGHVLJQHGWRSURWHFW
farmers of all sizes. According
to Saxon the state question, if
passed, will protect farmers in
Oklahoma and is designed to
keep outsiders from coming in
and telling Oklahoman farmers
ZKDW WKH\ FDQ DQG FDQW GR
Saxon said the Farm Bureau
wouldnt support an amendment that wasnt in the best
interest of farmers.
According to the Oklahoma
Farm Bureau this constitution,
if passed would give all farmers the right to choose what
NLQGRIFURSVDQGOLYHVWRFNWKH\
ZLOOUDLVH$VDQH[DPSOHWKH\
stated the state couldnt tell
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Farmers and ranchers will
remain in control of their own
operations and the same choice
will be given to people who will

be able to choose from foods
WKDWKDYH*02VRUDUH*02
IUHH$*02LVDQRUJDQLVP
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org, the Oklahoma Farm Bureau states that Oklahoma agriculture needs constitutional
protection from organizations
OLNH WKH +XPDQH 6RFLHW\ RI
the United States and other
activist organizations who
attack agriculture and its
VFLHQWLFDOO\VRXQG SUDFWLFH
These organizations push
feel-good legislature in state
FDSLWDOV DFURVV WKH FRXQWU\
KLQGHULQJWKHDELOLW\RISURGXFers to provide food to our nation
and our world.
Edmondson said that in the
SDVWGHFDGH2NODKRPD)DPLO\
IDUPVKDYHGHFOLQHGE\DERXW
SHUFHQW+HVDLGWKHUHDVRQ
is not environmental legislation but because of massive
multi-national operations.
:KHQVSHDNLQJRI64(GPRQGVRQVDLG7KH\GUHVVLWLQ
language, like Right to Farm.
7KH\GRQWVD\0DVVLYH)DUP
2SHUDWLRQ 3URWHFWLRQ $FW
which it is.
In a telephone interview,
IRUPHU 6WDWH 6HQDWRU 3DXO
0XHJJH VDLG WKLV SURSRVHG
amendment is reminiscent of
a controversial battle for legisODWXUHSDVVHGLQRQWKH
regulation of corporate-based
animal feeding operations and
the animal waste that follows
SUHGRPLQDWHO\ SRXOWU\ DQG
swine waste issues. He said if
this state question passes, state
OHJLVODWXUHZRXOGEHFRPSOHWHO\
shut out.
0XHJJH ZKR FKDLUHG WKH
Agriculture and Rural Development Committee for eight of his
\HDUVLQWKH2NODKRPD6WDWH
Senate, said polluting of land
and water are major concerns
if this constitution were to pass
EHFDXVHLWZRXOGQRWRQO\RSHQ
the doors to major agriculture
corporations but would leave us
without the means to regulate.
0DQ\RSSRVHGWR64VD\
WKHVHFRUSRUDWLRQVDUHWKHRQO\
RQHVZKRUHDOO\EHQHWLIWKLV
state question passes.
0XHJJH FRPSDUHV WKH SURposed amendment to NAFTA
$FFRUGLQJWRJOREDOH[change.org Under NAFTA,
farmers income in all three
countries (Canada, the U.S.
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lost their land, while agribusiness corporations have reaped
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In spite of its obvious failures,
new trade agreements are being
ZULWWHQWRH[SDQG1$)7$VW\OH
corporate free trade.
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Oklahoma Farmers Care disputes these allegations writing
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all shapes and sizes of farmers
and ranchers, including small
IDUPHUVKREE\IDUPHUV7KH
Right to Farm amendment will
SURWHFWDOOIDUPHUVHTXDOO\
Saxon said the bill protects
WKHZD\SHRSOHIDUPLQ2NODKRma. He said if the amendment
to the constitution is approved
it would keep outsiders from
coming in to tell us how we can
and cant farm our produce.
Bud Scott with Oklahomans
IRU )RRG )DUP DQG )DPLO\
told The Norman Transcript
64 SRVHV VHULRXV OHJDO
problems for state and local governments to protect local water
TXDOLW\DQGLWGRHVQRWKLQJWR
preserve generational farming
VLQFHRXUIDUPHUVDOUHDG\KDYH
DQG DOZD\V ZLOO KDYH D ULJKW
to farm.
According to oklahomaconservation.org, the vague
ballot language could threaten
private and public water rights
and municipal zoning authorLW\DQGWKURZWKHVWDWHVFRPplex water laws into chaos.
'HQLVH'HDVRQ7R\QHSUHVLGHQW RI WKH ZDWHU DGYRFDF\

group, Save the Illinois River,
VDLGWKH\ZDQWWRNHHS64
off the ballot. About a decade
ago her group supported the
states lawsuit (which was
ZRQDJDLQVWSRXOWU\FRPSDQLHV
that were polluting the Illinois
river with chicken waste. Her
concern is right to farm would
make it easier for farmers to
SROOXWH EHFDXVH TXHVWLRQ
would leave it to the courts
to decide whats in the states
compelling interest, and its too
YDJXHVWDWHLPSDFWQSURUJ
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9LFH3UHVLGHQWRIWKH2NODKRPD
Cattlemens Association said
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about water as a compelling
state interest and our support
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would be rendered ineffective
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are supporting.
,QDQHPDLOLQWHUYLHZ.HOVH\
said OCA supports farmers
and ranchers making decisions
on their farms/ranches that are
science based and in consultation with their veterinarian.
OCA supports consumers making food purchasing decisions
rather than government laws,
VXSSRUWHG E\ VSHFLDO LQWHUHVW
groups that would limit what
consumers can and cannot
purchase.
Edmondson said another
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\RXSXWLWLQWKHFRQVWLWXWLRQ
OHJLVODWXUHVFLW\FRXQFLOVDQG
state agencies become powerOHVV+HVDLGLIWKHDJULFXOWXUDO LQGXVWU\ VWDUWHG GRLQJ

something we didnt agree with
or didnt feel was safe, The
state legislature couldnt just
pass new legislation outlawing
the practice.
0XHJJHDJUHHVDQGVDLGE\
setting the highest legal standard in Oklahoma with the
passing of this amendment to
WKHFRQVWLWXWLRQJKWLQJWKLQJV
like pollutants from multi-million dollar corporations would
be almost impossible.
He said the cost for taking
RIIHQGLQJ LQGXVWULDO IDFWRU\
farms to court would eventuDOO\ IDOO RQ IDUPHUV DQGRU
neighborhoods.
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of odds, legislation would be
FRPSOHWHO\VKXWRXW
When asked if there was one
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with voters, Saxon said, Its
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protection.
0XHJJHVUHVSRQVHFRQFHUQing the proposed amendment
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constitutional provisions to
provide guidance as to how
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their provisions.
Voters will benefit from
examining the language of the
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and seeking as much information as possible to help them
make an informed decision.

7KH%DOORWIRU64UHDGV
This measure adds Section 38
to Article II of the Oklahoma
Constitution. The new section
creates state constitutional
rights. It creates the following
guaranteed rights to engage in
farming and ranching
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DJULFXOWXUDOWHFKQRORJ\
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livestock procedures; and
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ranching practices.
These constitutional rights
receive extra protection under
this measure that not all constitutional rights receive.
This extra protection is a
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interfere with the exercise of
these rights. Under this extra
protection, no law can interfere
with these rights, unless the
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the highest order.
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state laws related to:
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McIntosh County Democrat
Pro-SQ 777 statements called misleading

Oct
06
2016
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USPS No. 335-220
Jeff Mayo, Publisher

Shauna Belyeu, General Manager
Jerry Fink, Managing Editor
Rodney Haltom, Sports Editor
Leilani Roberts Ott, Staff Writer
Kayla Smith, Sales
Daphanie Hutton, Classifieds/Legals
Eric Guillermo, Composing
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The Okarche Chieftain
Letter to the editor:

Oct
06
2016
Page
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Farmer-rancher endorses SQ 777

To the editor:
My name is Tony
Moore. I grew up on
a farm in the Calumet/
Geary area in the 50s and
60s. I married a local girl
in 1969 and served in the
military from 1972 1974
after which I came back
to the farm for a period of
time.
In 1978, I graduated
from Southern Nazarene
University and decided
that I wanted to work on
a Masters Degree at the
Nazarene
Theological
Seminary. Yvonda and I
moved to Kansas City in
1978, and I completed my
Masters in 1980.
We moved to New Jersey in that year to serve in
a Nazarene church. During my tenure in Vineland,
New Jersey, I completed
my Doctorate of Ministry
Degree in Marriage and
Family Therapy at Eastern Baptist Seminary in
Philadelphia.
After 21 years as a pastor, chaplain, and mental
health professional, Yvonda and I moved back to
the Calumet/Geary area.
Our son was determined
to farm and was learning the ropes by working
with my two brothers but
needed help in pulling the
QDQFHVWRJHWKHUWRPDNH
it happen.
In 2001, we purchased
Snyder Oil and Gas in
Calumet and renamed it,
Moores Farm Service
Center. Today we still
run Moores Farm Service
Center and farm & ranch
on 2,200 acres. We own

and live on a quarter of
land once owned by my
great-grandfather, Herb
Shumate. Many of the
places we lease are leases
my father, uncles, and
grandfather, Earl Moore,
farmed when I was a boy.
After being gone for
over 20 years, I discovered that it is primarily
the same families farming
and ranching in the Calumet/Geary area.
Some of the old folks
are gone but young ones
have carried on. There
KDV EHHQ VLJQLFDQW FRQsolidation, of course.
Some families are gone
and others have grown
larger operations. Farming is not a highly lucrative venture.
My cousin jokes that
farmers live poor so they
can die rich. It takes a life
time to build a farming/
ranching enterprise. The
only ones who stick with
it are the ones who truly
love it. They often work
from daylight to dark to
get the crops in and do the
same to get the crops out.
Many of the farmers I
know work second jobs to
produce income for their
families and wives often
ZRUNRIDUP
Yvonda is retiring soon
from a career in Healthcare Finance. She has
made our living while
Bryan and I get the business established. This
is not unusual for farm
and ranching families.
On average, about three-
fourths of farm family

LQFRPH FRPHV IURP R
farm work. Nationwide
on-farm income averages
only about $22,000 per
year. People do not do
this work for the money
they do it for love of the
land and animals.
When the hurricane
dumped all the water in
2007, Bryans home was
RRGHG DQG KH KDG WR
walk out through water
that was sometimes chest
deep. Once he was safe,
we turned our attention to
the animals.
The 22 inches of rain
they got at Watonga was
quickly moving east down
the North Canadian River.
We had one place on an
old river bed where we
thought the cattle may be
in danger. Upon arriving at this place we were
shocked by the amount of
ZDWHU RRGLQJ WKH DUHD
We determined right away
that someone needed to
walk down into the area
and open the gates so cattle could get out.
The water was already
knee-deep and rising
quickly. I was afraid that
I could not stand up in the
swiftly moving water, so
Bryan decided he would
go. He opened all gates

and returned to the pickup
as quickly as possible.
The water was waist deep
when he returned. It was
quite dangerous for him
to do this, but the cattle
would have all drowned if
they could not get out of
the pasture. The following morning, all the cows,
calves and bulls were out
of the old river bottom
up on the black-top road.
Not a single animal died.
It could be argued that
it was foolish to risk a
life for these animals but
frankly farm people demonstrate this kind of dedication to their farm operations all the time. During
a snow storm that blocks
roads and when most people are in the warm, farm
people are clearing roads
and getting food and water to their animals.
The vast majority of
Oklahoma ranch and farm
land is managed by farm
families. There is always
someone often an activist or environmentalist,
who thinks they are better suited to direct farming than the farmer. This
seems unlikely to me. No
See Letter, Page 5A
STAFF MEMBERS
Publisher: Randy K. Anderson
Accounts Payable: Faye Edwards
Member of:
National Newspaper Association

Oklahoma Press Association
The Okarche Chieftain
Co
C
b
Oct
06
2016
Page
A005
Clip
resized
52%
From
A004
B
As
wher
they
local
Its t
SD\W
cars,
smal
may
Some farmers contend State Question 777, if approved, will enhance their name
talk a
operations. Others say the measure will hurt them. (File Photo)
trust
Sa
bank
instit
in la
talist out of Oklahoma to push their agendas by
From Page 4A
farming and ranching. forcing various regula- cial
one loves the land or the There is an article in the tions on Oklahoma farm- supp
animals like the farmer or September issue of the ers and ranchers. Please KDUP
rancher who owns them.
High Plains Journal about remember that every new tem.
There are many checks environmental groups try- regulation comes with muni
and balances currently in ing to get the personal in- a cost that shows up in stead
place. You may not know formation of farmers.
the grocery store in time. cent
that most Oklahoma farms
The author, Seymour With all due respect to reaso
report their plant dates Klierly, suggests that VRPH RI WKH KLJKSUROH costl
and their harvest dates these groups are anti- people who have come impo
to Farm Service Agency. modern farming and wish out against SQ777, an inIt w
FSA also has aerial photos to use the personal infor- crease in food cost prob- this w
of each farm. In this way, mation to do harm to farm ably will not impact them passe
the government tracks our families. I also noticed in the least.

crops and is able to see, a recent article by Jenn
However, many Okla- whic
via updated photos, ev- Gidman titled, Califor- homa families will be im- by th
erything that is done on nia Regulates Cow Farts pacted by rising food pric- ODUJH
each farm.
dated September 20. No es. It is foolish to allow that
State Question 777, kidding! This is what it RXWVLGH JURXSV WR LQX- ULYDW
Right to Farm, is a bill has come to.
ence Oklahoma agricul- ment
that will keep farming and
Some people feel the ture in ways that increase by m
ranching in the hands of language of 777 is too the cost of production and
Un
dedicated family farmers broad. I will just point out interfere with local farm- those
and ranchers.
two things: (1) The bill ers and ranchers man- defau
Every activist and en- says that if the state has agement practices.
In the
vironmentalist has an a compelling interest, it the end, do you trust your pract
agenda they seek to push. can intervene. How hard food production to activ- the
They may be well inten- will it be for a smart at- ists and environmentalists lendi
tioned, but they do not torney to argue compel- or to local family farm- Mae
have a singular focus on ling interest? The state ers and ranchers like the Whe
the land, the crops and the is still in the drivers seat. Moore family?
went
animals like your family (2) Your local farmers
secur
farmer.
and ranchers are far more
Vote yes on 777 you supp
The primary purpose of trustworthy than various will not go wrong trusting WRR
SQ 777 is to keep outside activists and environmen- your local family ranchers instit
activists and environmental groups that can attempt and farmers!
veste
was
th t
Letter
Commentary
The Piedmont-Surrey Gazette
farm work. Nationwide

on-farm income averages
only about $22,000 per
year. People do not do
this work for the money
they do it for love of the
land and animals.
When the hurricane
dumped all the water in
2007, Bryans home was
RRGHG DQG KH KDG WR
walk out through water
that was sometimes chest
deep. Once he was safe,
we turned our attention to
the animals.
The 22 inches of rain
they got at Watonga was
quickly moving east down
the North Canadian River.
We had one place on an
old river bed where we
thought the cattle may be
in danger. Upon arriving at this place we were
shocked by the amount of
ZDWHU RRGLQJ WKH DUHD
We determined right away
that someone needed to
walk down into the area
and open the gates so cattle could get out.
The water was already
knee-deep and rising
quickly. I was afraid that
I could not stand up in the
swiftly moving water, so
Bryan decided he would
as quickly as possible.
The water was waist deep
when he returned. It was
quite dangerous for him
to do this, but the cattle
would have all drowned if
they could not get out of
the pasture. The following morning, all the cows,
calves and bulls were out
of the old river bottom
up on the black-top road.
Not a single animal died.
It could be argued that
it was foolish to risk a
life for these animals but
frankly farm people demonstrate this kind of dedication to their farm operations all the time. During
a snow storm that blocks
roads and when most people are in the warm, farm
people are clearing roads
and getting food and water to their animals.
The vast majority of
Oklahoma ranch and farm
land is managed by farm
families. There is always
someone often an activist or environmentalist,
who thinks they are better suited to direct farming than the farmer. This
seems unlikely to me. No
See Letter, Page 5A
The Piedmont-Surrey
Gazette
STAFF MEMBERS
Member of:
RESS ASS
AP
O
ION
AT
CI
E
TT
R
2007
NE
National Newspaper
Association
ST
Award
Winning
Newspaper
BE
Publisher: Randy K. Anderson

Production Manager: Becky Pearce
Accounts Payable: Faye Edwards
TE
Clip
resized
52%
land once owned by my

great-grandfather, Herb
Shumate. Many of the
places we lease are leases
my father, uncles, and
grandfather, Earl Moore,
farmed when I was a boy.
After being gone for
over 20 years, I discovered that it is primarily
the same families farming
and ranching in the Calumet/Geary area.
Some of the old folks
are gone but young ones
have carried on. There
KDV EHHQ VLJQLFDQW FRQsolidation, of course.
Some families are gone
and others have grown
larger operations. Farming is not a highly lucrative venture.
My cousin jokes that
farmers live poor so they
can die rich. It takes a life
time to build a farming/
ranching enterprise. The
only ones who stick with
it are the ones who truly
love it. They often work
from daylight to dark to
get the crops in and do the
same to get the crops out.
Many of the farmers I
know work second jobs to
produce income for their
families and wives often
ZRUNRIDUP
Yvonda is retiring soon
from a career in Healthcare Finance. She has
made our living while
Bryan and I get the business established. This
is not unusual for farm
and ranching families.
On average, about three-
Page
A004
Moore. I grew up on
a farm in the Calumet/
ed Geary area in the 50s and
he 60s. I married a local girl
ry in 1969 and served in the
to military from 1972 1974
KL- after which I came back
to the farm for a period of
ly. time.
In 1978, I graduated
ate from Southern Nazarene
nd University and decided
be that I wanted to work on
ill a Masters Degree at the
Theological
s- Nazarene
re Seminary. Yvonda and I
HLU moved to Kansas City in
1978, and I completed my
rs Masters in 1980.
etWe moved to New Jersey in that year to serve in
er- a Nazarene church. Durer ing my tenure in Vineland,
e- New Jersey, I completed
to my Doctorate of Ministry
Degree in Marriage and
rs. Family Therapy at Eastor ern Baptist Seminary in
Philadelphia.
alAfter 21 years as a pasar- tor, chaplain, and mental
al health professional, Yvonrs da and I moved back to
the Calumet/Geary area.
U\ Our son was determined
of- to farm and was learnel- ing the ropes by working
all with my two brothers but
ars needed help in pulling the
se QDQFHVWRJHWKHUWRPDNH
ho it happen.
In 2001, we purchased
ed Snyder Oil and Gas in
Calumet and renamed it,
me Moores Farm Service
an Center. Today we still
e- run Moores Farm Service
ss. Center and farm & ranch
HO
2016
Farmer-rancher endorses SQ 777
OKLA
Oct
06
and Letter to the editor:

knd
n.
er
on 2,200 acres. We own fourths of farm family go. He opened all gates
ual To the editor:
My name is Tony and live on a quarter of LQFRPH FRPHV IURP R and returned to the pickup
ve
O
W S PA PE R C
The Piedmont-Surrey Gazette
C
b
Oct
06
2016
Page
A005
Clip
resized
52%
From
A004
Some farmers contend State Question 777, if approved, will enhance their
operations. Others say the measure will hurt them. (File Photo)
Letter
From Page 4A
one loves the land or the
animals like the farmer or
rancher who owns them.
There are many checks
and balances currently in
place. You may not know
that most Oklahoma farms
report their plant dates
and their harvest dates
to Farm Service Agency.
FSA also has aerial photos
of each farm. In this way,
the government tracks our
crops and is able to see,
via updated photos, everything that is done on
each farm.
State Question 777,
Right to Farm, is a bill
that will keep farming and
ranching in the hands of
dedicated family farmers
and ranchers.
Every activist and environmentalist has an
agenda they seek to push.
They may be well intentioned, but they do not
have a singular focus on
the land, the crops and the
animals like your family
farmer.
The primary purpose of
SQ 777 is to keep outside
activists and environmen-
Commentary
talist out of Oklahoma

farming and ranching.
There is an article in the
September issue of the
High Plains Journal about
environmental groups trying to get the personal information of farmers.
The author, Seymour
Klierly, suggests that
these groups are antimodern farming and wish
to use the personal information to do harm to farm
families. I also noticed
a recent article by Jenn
Gidman titled, California Regulates Cow Farts
dated September 20. No
kidding! This is what it
has come to.
Some people feel the
language of 777 is too
broad. I will just point out
two things: (1) The bill
says that if the state has
a compelling interest, it
can intervene. How hard
will it be for a smart attorney to argue compelling interest? The state
is still in the drivers seat.
(2) Your local farmers
and ranchers are far more
trustworthy than various
activists and environmental groups that can attempt
w
th
lo
It
S
ca
sm
m
n
ta
tr
b
in
in
to push their agendas by
forcing various regula- ci
tions on Oklahoma farm- su
ers and ranchers. Please K
remember that every new te
regulation comes with m
a cost that shows up in st
the grocery store in time. ce
With all due respect to re
VRPH RI WKH KLJKSUROH co
people who have come im
out against SQ777, an increase in food cost prob- th
ably will not impact them p

in the least.
However, many Okla- w
homa families will be im- b
pacted by rising food pric- OD
es. It is foolish to allow th
RXWVLGH JURXSV WR LQX- UL
ence Oklahoma agricul- m
ture in ways that increase b
the cost of production and
interfere with local farm- th
ers and ranchers man- d
agement practices.
In th
the end, do you trust your p
food production to activ- th
ists and environmentalists le
or to local family farm- M
ers and ranchers like the W
w
Moore family?
Vote yes on 777 you se
will not go wrong trusting su
your local family ranchers W
in
and farmers!
v
w
th

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The Carnegie Herald

Wednesday, October 5, 2016

The Carnegie Herald

Education Funding Tax

SUMMARY: State Question 776 does two things: it addresses the

SUMMARY: If the proposal is approved, the measure would prevent

SUMMARY: If this proposal is approved, Article 8-C would be

SUMMARY: The implementation of State Question 781 is contingent

Religion & the State

SUMMARY: State Question 790 addresses public funding and property

SUMMARY: If the proposal is approved, it would repeal Article 28

or the Oklahoma State Election Board website at

The Clinton Daily News

Oklahoma voters will

the ballot through the petition process (5 out of 12).

especially true since 2004,

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The Elk City Daily News

E l k C ity N ews E lk Ci ty, O k l ah om a

S unday, S ep tem ber 2 5 , 2 0 16

Education Funding Tax

STATE QUESTION NO. 776

STATE QUESTION NO. 779

AGAINST THE PROPOSAL NO

SUMMARY: State Question 776 does two things: it addresses the

SUMMARY: If the proposal is approved, the measure would prevent

SUMMARY: If this proposal is approved, Article 8-C would be

STATE QUESTION NO. 780

STATE QUESTION NO. 781

SUMMARY: The implementation of State Question 781 is contingent

Religion & the State

STATE QUESTION NO. 790

SUMMARY: State Question 790 addresses public funding and property

STATE QUESTION NO. 792

SUMMARY: If the proposal is approved, it would repeal Article 28

or the Oklahoma State Election Board website at

The Hinton Record

SQ 777s ballot language

problems for state and local

Dr. Tim Nelson

The Leader Tribune

State Questions Merit Examination

Oct 2016 Page

Voter registration deadline nears

The deadline for voter

filling out a form and

sentee ballots are also

See Register, Page A5

Oct 2016 Page

party on the ballot in

for higher education and

Oct 2016 Page

The Sayre Record & Beckham County Democrat

Cattlemans VP says SQ 777

Another supporter of State

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Views from across Oklahoma

The Journal Record

The Department of Public

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