Oklahoma 2016 ballot measures
Seven measures were certified to appear on the Oklahoma ballot on November 8, 2016.
State Question 776 was designed to assert that all methods of execution would be constitutionally allowed unless prohibited by the United States Constitution and designated statutorily by the legislature. It was approved.
State Question 777 was designed to establish a constitutional right for farmers and ranchers to engage in farming and ranching practices. It was defeated.
State Question 779 was designed to increase the state sales tax by 1 percent to generate revenue for education funding. It was defeated.
State Question 780 was designed to reclassify certain property offenses and simple drug possession as misdemeanor crimes. It was approved.
State Question 781 was designed to use money saved by reclassifying certain property and drug crimes as misdemeanors, as outlined in State Question 780, to fund rehabilitative programs. It was approved.
State Question 790 was designed to repeal Section 5 of Article 2 of the Oklahoma Constitution, which prohibits public money from being spent for religious purposes. It was defeated.
State Question 792 was designed to allow grocery stores and convenience stores to sell full-strength beer and wine. It was approved.
At least 13 initiatives were filed for potential spots on the 2016 ballot. Petitioners needed to file the requisite number of signatures by the prescribed deadlines, which varied for each initiative. Supporters for State Questions 787 and 788 submitted signatures by their August 11, 2016, deadlines. Oklahomans for Health, the group behind State Question 787, failed to submit enough valid signatures to qualify the measure for the ballot. Oklahomans for Health was also behind State Question 788, which was designed to legalize medical marijuana. The group filed a lawsuit over the ballot language provided by state officials, delaying the measure beyond the deadline for finalizing the November 2016 ballot. September 7, 2016, was the final deadline for signature submission in Oklahoma.
Citizens of Oklahoma may initiate statewide legislation via ballot measures in the form of either initiated state statutes or initiated constitutional amendments. In Oklahoma, citizens also have the power to repeal legislation via veto referendum. Relative to other states that allow statewide ballot initiatives, Oklahoma's laws make it difficult to qualify an initiative for the ballot. From 1996 to 2016, eight statewide initiatives qualified for the ballot, three of which were on the ballot in 2016.
At least 65,987 valid signatures were required to place initiated state statutes on the ballot, 41,242 signatures were required to place referendums on the ballot, and 123,725 valid signatures were required to place initiated constitutional amendments on the ballot.
The 2016 legislative session ran from February 1 through May 27, 2016, during which time the Oklahoma State Legislature was able to place legislative referrals on the ballot.
Historical facts
A total of 76 measures have appeared annually on statewide ballots since 1996.
- From 1996 to 2016, an average of seven measures have appeared on the ballot during even-numbered election years in Oklahoma.
- The number of measures appearing on statewide ballots between 1996 and 2016 has ranged from one to 11.
- Between 1996 and 2016, about 80 percent (61 of 76) of statewide ballots were approved by voters, and about 20 percent (15 of 76) were defeated. One measure was approved by voters but subsequently overturned by the courts.
On the ballot
- See also: 2016 ballot measures
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LRCA | SQ 776 | Death Penalty | Provides constitutional justification for death penalty statutes | |
| LRCA | SQ 777 | Agriculture | Adds a "right to farm" to the state constitution |  |
| CICA | SQ 779 | Taxes | Increases the state sales tax by 1 percent | |
| CISS | SQ 780 | Law enforcement | Reclassifies some drug and property crimes as misdemeanors |  |
| CISS | SQ 781 | Law enforcement | Funds rehabilitation programs with funds from SQ 780 | |
| LRCA | SQ 790 | Religion | Repeals prohibition on public money being spent for religious purposes | |
| LRCA | SQ 792 | Alcohol | Allows grocery and convenience stores to sell full-strength beer and wine | |
Cost per required signatures
- See also: Ballot measure signature costs, 2016
The cost per required signatures (CPRS) is a comparison of the amount of money spent on the petition drive to the number of signatures the state requires for an initiative to make the ballot. Of the three initiatives on the ballot, the CPRS was the highest for State Question 779.
| Ballot Measure: | Topic: | Petition company | Cost | Signatures | CPRS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma State Question 781 | Drug crime policy | PCI Consultants, Inc. | $544,706.05 | 65,987.00 | $8.25[1] |
| Oklahoma State Question 779 | Taxes | Education Petition Campaign, Inc. | $1,517,446.87 | 123,725 | $12.26 |
| Averages: | N/A | PCI Consultants, Inc | $868,952.99 | N/A | $9.59 |
Not on the ballot
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CICA | State Question 774 | Bonds | Issues $500 million in bonds to construct storm shelters in schools | 
|
| CICA | State Question 778 | Marijuana | Legalizes medical marijuana |
|
| CICA | State Question 782 | Abortion | Prohibits abortion |
|
| CICA | State Question 783 | Alcohol | Allows the retail sale of wine and beer of not more than 8.99 percent alcohol in grocery stores |
|
| CICA | State Question 785 | Alcohol | Allows grocery stores to sell beer and wine and small brewers to sell beer at on-site taprooms; also allows retail package stores to sell their products on any day of the year except Thanksgiving and Christmas |
|
| CISS | State Question 787 | Direct democracy | Changes the initiative and referendum petition process by lengthening the time period to collect signatures from 90 days to one year |
|
| CISS | State Question 788 | Marijuana | Legalizes the licensed growth, use, and possession of marijuana for medicinal purposes | 
|
| CICA | State Question 791 | Alcohol | Requires the legislature to enact laws to regulate alcoholic beverages. Common ownership between tiers of the alcoholic beverage business would be prohibited. Some restrictions would be applied to manufacturers, brewers, winemakers, and wholesalers. |
|
See also
External links
- Oklahoma State Election Board: 2016 State Questions
- Oklahoma Policy Institute State Question Guide
- Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs 2016 Ballot Measure Voters' Guide
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- ↑ ’'Oklahomans for Criminal Justice Reform paid PCI Consultants, Inc. to collect signatures for both State Question 780 and State Question 781. The total amount spent on signature gathering for both was $1,089,412.10. That amount was divided by two to arrive at a total cost of $544,706.05. It's not possible to know the exact amount spent on each one.
