Oklahoma State Question 810, Independent Redistricting Commission Initiative (2020)
| Oklahoma State Question 810 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Election date November 3, 2020 | |
| Topic Redistricting measures | |
| Status Not on the ballot | |
| Type Constitutional amendment | Origin Citizens |
Oklahoma State Question 810, the Independent Redistricting Commission Initiative, was not on the ballot in Oklahoma as an initiated constitutional amendment on November 3, 2020.
The initiative was designed to create an independent redistricting commission responsible for congressional and state legislative redistricting. As of 2020, congressional and state legislative districts were drawn by the state legislature.[1][2]
Text of measure
Ballot title
The ballot title for this measure would have been follows:[2]
| “ |
This proposed amendment to the Oklahoma Constitution is intended to prevent partisan gerrymandering. It creates an independent redistricting Commission, and vests the power to redistrict the state's House, Senatorial, and federal Congressional districts in the Commission (rather than the Legislature). The Commission is composed of three members from each of three groups: the state's largest political party, its second-largest party, and those unaffiliated with either party. A panel of retired judges designated by the Chief Justice would select pools of applicants from each group, then choose by lot three Commissioners from each. The amendment establishes qualifications for Commissioners designed to avoid conflicts of interest (for example, neither they nor their immediate family may have been elected to partisan office or worked for a political party in the last five years). It establishes a process for redistricting after each decennial census, and establishes new redistricting criteria. The Commission may not consider candidates' residences or a population's political affiliation or voting history except as needed for these criteria. The Supreme Court would select a plan if the Commission cannot. The amendment provides for funding and judicial review, repeals constitutional provisions, and reserves powers to the Commission rather than the Legislature. Shall the proposal be approved? For the proposal - YES Against the proposal - NO A "YES" vote is a vote in favor of this measure. A "NO" vote is a vote against this measure. [3] |
” |
Full text
The full text of the measure is available here.
Support
People Not Politicians led the campaign in support of the initiative.[4]
Supporters
- Let's Fix This OK[4]
- League of Women Voters of Oklahoma[4]
- Unite America[5]
Arguments
People Not Politicians wrote, "Oklahomans deserve to have fair and equal representation across the state, and partisan gerrymandering is keeping that from happening. Oklahoma’s politicians have not been held accountable for far too long. When politicians know their district is drawn to protect them from losing elections, they become less accountable to the voters and are more loyal to their own interests. Our initiative will create districts that are drawn fairly, elections that are more competitive, and politicians who are more interested in responding to the needs of average citizens and fixing many of the state’s real problems."[4]
Opposition
If you are aware of any opponents or opposing arguments, please send an email with a link to editor@ballotpedia.org.
Background
Redistricting in Oklahoma
- See also: Redistricting in Oklahoma
Going into the 2020 election and the 2020 census year, congressional and state legislative districts in Oklahoma were drawn by the state legislature. A simple majority vote in each chamber was required to pass a redistricting plan, which was subject to veto by the governor.
Procedures for state legislative redistricting by state
- See also: State-by-state redistricting procedures
In 34 of the 50 states, state legislatures play the dominant role in state legislative redistricting. Commissions draw state legislative district lines in 14 states. In two states, hybrid systems are used, in which state legislature share redistricting authority with commissions. See the map and table below for further details.[6][7][8]
Procedures for congressional redistricting by state
- See also: State-by-state redistricting procedures
Most states are required to draw new congressional district lines every 10 years following completion of United States Census (those states comprising one congressional district are not required to redistrict). In 33 of these states, state legislatures play the dominant role in congressional redistricting. In nine states, commissions draw congressional district lines. In two states, hybrid systems are used, in which the legislatures share redistricting authority with commissions. The remaining states comprise one congressional district each, rendering redistricting unnecessary. See the map and table below for further details.[6][7]
Path to the ballot
In Oklahoma, the number of signatures required to qualify an initiated constitutional amendment for the ballot is equal to 15 percent of the votes cast for governor in the previous gubernatorial election. Signatures must be submitted 90 days after the initiative is cleared for circulation by the secretary of state. Measures are generally placed on the next general election ballot following signature verification, but the governor may call a special election or place the measure on the primary ballot. If petitioners are targeting a specific election, the secretary of state recommends that signatures be submitted eight months prior to the election; however, they must be submitted a minimum of 60 days before the election to make the ballot.
The requirements to get an initiated constitutional amendment certified for the 2020 ballot:
- Signatures: 177,958 valid signatures were required
- Deadline: Each initiative has its own deadline that is 90 days after it was approved to circulate.
The secretary of state verifies signatures and submits the totals and the vote totals that determine the requirement to the Oklahoma Supreme Court, which makes the final determination of sufficiency.
Details about this initiative
- The initiative was filed by Andrew Moore, Janet Ann Larvent, and Lynda Johnson on February 6, 2020.[1]
- A protest challenging the constitutionality of the initiative and the accuracy of the gist was filed with the state supreme court on February 21, 2020.[1]
- The Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled on May 27, 2020, that the gist was accurate.[9]
- Proponents withdrew the initiative on July 14, 2020.[1]
See also
External links
Support |
OppositionSubmit links to editor@ballotpedia.org. |
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Oklahoma Secretary of State, "State Questions," accessed October 29, 2019
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Oklahoma Secretary of State, "State Question 810 full text," accessed Februrary 6, 2020
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 People Not Politicians, "Learn more," accessed October 29, 2019
- ↑ FEC, "Unite America," accessed February 4, 2020
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 All About Redistricting, "National Summary," accessed July 29, 2024
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 The American Redistricting Project, "State," accessed July 29, 2024
- ↑ NCSL, "Redistricting Commissions: State Legislative Plans," December 10, 2021
- ↑ Oklahoman, "Coronavirus in Oklahoma: Initiative petition on redistricting clears one hurdle, but faces unclear future," accessed May 28, 2020
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