MAKE US YOUR HOMEPAGE
|
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
|
WIRELESS
CONTACT US
|
SUBSCRIBER SERVICES
|
SIGN IN
SIGN OUT
|
MY PROFILE PAGE
|
MY ACCOUNT
Advanced Search
Current Conditions
22°
(Feels like 16°)
5-day local forecast
Home
News
Sports
Business
Special Projects
Blogs
Scene
Obits
Videos
Photos
Databases
Opinion
Comics
Jobs
Autos
Homes
Classifieds
Contact Us
|
About the Tulsa World
|
FAQ & Help
|
Advertise With Us
|
Create an Online Account
|
Email Newsletters
|
RSS
|
Mobile
|
iPhone App
|
E-Edition
Local
|
State
|
US/World
|
Education
|
Health
|
Religion
|
Courts
|
Government
|
Stimulus Tracker
|
Weather
|
Births
|
Divorces
|
Marriages
|
Transitions
OU
|
OSU
|
TU
|
ORU
|
High Schools
|
College Football
|
College Basketball
|
Blogs
|
Out Pick the Picker Contest & Blog
|
NFL
|
Fantasy
|
Pros
|
Golf
|
Outdoors
|
Motor Sports
|
All
Stocks
|
Aerospace
|
Agriculture
|
Employment
|
Energy
|
Real Estate
|
Finance
|
Tech
|
Retail
|
Transportation
|
FYI
|
Consumer Awareness
|
Action Line
Special Projects
|
The Homicide Report
|
The SemGroup Collapse
|
Puppy Profits
|
The Life of Oral Roberts
|
The Life of Will Rogers
Sports
|
Scene
|
Opinion
|
Photo
Dining In
|
Dining Out
|
Movies
|
Music
|
On TV
|
The Arts
|
Style
|
People
|
Home
|
Health
|
Family
|
Books
|
Travel
|
Celebrations
|
Blogs
Obituaries
|
Memorials
|
Death Notices
|
Support
|
Resources
|
Funeral Directors Login
|
Search Obituaries
|
Find a funeral home or cemetery
|
Divorces
|
Marriages
|
Transitions
Videos
|
Blogs
Photos
|
Blogs
|
Order photo and page reproductions
Databases
|
State Salaries
|
City Salaries
|
Gas Station Violations
|
Crime Tracker
|
State Restaurant Inspection Reports
Editorials
|
Letters
|
Bruce Plante's Political Cartoons
|
Readers Forum
|
Wayne Greene's Blog
|
Mike Jones' Blog
|
Stems & Pieces
Comics Kingdom Online
|
Comics from the Tulsa World Print Edition
Job Search
|
Career Resources
|
Upload/Modify Resume
|
Hiring Companies
|
Career Fairs
|
Account Profile
|
Job Alerts
|
Employer Login
My Saved Searches
|
My Saved Ads
|
Boats
|
Motorcycles
|
Recreational Vehicles
|
Airplanes
|
Classic Cars
|
ATV's
|
Scooters
|
Sell Your Car
Property Search
|
Commercial Property
|
Foreclosures
|
World of Homes
|
Find a Realtor
|
Real Estate Login
Garage Sales
|
Pets
|
Post An Ad
|
Upload a Photo
|
Help & FAQ
Home
>
News
> Article
Print
Email
Comment
RSS
Bookmark
If you would like to bookmark this article you will need to
Login
to your tulsaworld.com account
close
Bills aim to recast elections
By BARBARA HOBEROCK World Capitol Bureau
Published:
1/20/2009 10:59 PM
Last Modified: 1/20/2009 10:59 PM
OKLAHOMA CITY — A number of bills filed for the upcoming session propose changes to the state’s election laws.
Sen. John Ford, R-Bartlesville, has filed Senate Bill 4, which would require a person to show proof of identity to vote.
A voter ID measure died last legislative session. Democrats said such measures disenfranchise poor, disabled and elderly voters who may not have identification and tend to vote Democratic. Supporters said it was necessary to ensure the integrity of the process.
Sen. Judy Eason McIntyre, D-Tulsa, has filed Senate Bill 440, which would make requests to vote absentee continuous until the voter provides written notice that an absentee ballot is no longer needed, the voter ceases to be registered, or the voter doesn’t return any of the absentee ballots for two successive general elections.
She said the measure is to benefit the elderly and incapacitated.
“Right now, the elderly and disabled are generally more reliable Democratic votes,” said Senate Minority Leader Charles Laster, D-Shawnee.
Sen. Kenneth Corn, D-Poteau, has filed Senate Bill 866 to allow voters to register in person on election day.
“I think we should remove the obstacles,” Corn said.
Laster said the measure would increase the likelihood that people would vote and increase turnouts in high-profile elections.
Sen. Debbe Leftwich, D-Oklahoma City, has filed Senate Bill 324 to eliminate straight party voting. She said the measure is designed to eliminate voter confusion.
Senate President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City, filed Senate Bill 874, which requires sheriffs and district attorneys to run on nonpartisan ballots.
Coffee said law enforcement is a nonpartisan issue. Whether the measure benefits one particular party depends on the area of the state where the election is held.
“If you are in Little Dixie, it probably benefits the Republicans,” Coffee said. “Here in Oklahoma County, it probably benefits the Democrats.”
Republicans now have a 26-22 majority in the Senate for the first time in history.
By BARBARA HOBEROCK World Capitol Bureau
Copy Text
Search for this phrase/name
Close
Print
Email
Comment
RSS
Bookmark
If you would like to bookmark this article you will need to
Login
to your tulsaworld.com account
close
Reader Comments
Show: Most Recent Comment First
Add your comment
4
comments have been made on this story so far. Tell us what you think below!
Reporting Comments
If you see a comment that violates our
terms and conditions
, please help us by clicking the "Report this Comment" link next to a comment. That will alert the web staff to review the comment. Thank you. --
Web Editor Jason Collington
Report Comment
Intermittently Semi-Serious
, Broken Arrow (1/21/2009 2:04:53 AM)
Straight party-line votes allow for a vote without thought. The constitution does not say of the idiots, by the idiots and for the idiots. Our right to vote did not come easy and should not be allowed to be taken lightly. These are important decisions, not coin flips.
As for ID...it is already a misdemeanor not to posess valid ID, it just isn't enforced (can you immagine the courts?). Why let someone that is breaking the law decide the law?
Report Comment
my view
, Sand Springs (1/21/2009 5:25:42 AM)
You need identification to cash a check, most have it. The argument against voter ID is a smoke screen. The Poor need it to get state benefits, disable need it for SSI and elderly need proof of who they are for social surceity. It not that much of inconvience show proof of who you are.
Report Comment
DavidOK
, (1/21/2009 11:13:15 PM)
80,000 Oklahomans do not have a photo ID, If photo ID is required and it is not free the new law will not be constitutional. If the state pays for it the cost will be around a million dollars. I have more information at voterok dot com
Report Comment
DavidOK
, (1/21/2009 11:14:02 PM)
Go to youtube and search voter id oklahoma and watch the videos.
Add Your Comment
In order to post a comment on this article, you must
sign in to Tulsaworld.com
. If you do not have a site account, you can
create an account for free
.
Post Your Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Comments made yesterday
2,108
Total Comments
1,034,056
Register to make reader comments
1) Tulsa mayor wants to use grant money to hire back officers
2) Man arrested in Tulsa kidnapping also investigated in 2007 disappearance
3) Debating a penny
4) Tulsa man pleads guilty to murdering mom, cousin
5) Tulsa Denny's restaurant busy after Super Bowl ad promotion
6) Shawnee police shoot, kill knife-wielding man
7) Missing boy shows up at Oklahoma City school
8) Tulsa man, Coweta woman plead guilty in mortgage conspiracy
9) Two injured in highway crash
10) Oklahoma legislature honors 'The Biggest Loser' winner
View the top 50
These are the most viewed stories in the last 24 hours.
1) Tulsa police will not respond to some calls
2) Panel advances Bible-education bill
3) No cuts planned for mayor's staff
4) Gunman robs new north Tulsa grocery
5) Sarah Palin assails Obama at 'tea party' gathering
6) Tea Party movement looks to continue momentum
7) Officer out on bail after bar incident
8) Debating a penny
9) Tulsa mayor wants to use grant money to hire back officers
10) Most snow melts in mild storm
View the top 50
These are the top stories that have been commented on in the past 7 days.
1) Man arrested in Tulsa kidnapping also investigated in 2007 disappearance
2) Tulsa Denny's restaurant busy after Super Bowl ad promotion
3) Income tax credit: Making Work Pay
4) Tulsa team helps Haitian reportedly buried 22 days
5) Oklahoma legislature honors 'The Biggest Loser' winner
6) There's a job at the SHOP
7) Two Tulsa school board members unseated
8) Debating a penny
9) Tulsa man, Coweta woman plead guilty in mortgage conspiracy
10) Tulsa man pleads guilty to murdering mom, cousin
View the top 50
These are the top stories that have been emailed in the past 24 hours.
Home
|
About Tulsa World
|
Advertise With Us
|
Privacy
|
Usage Agreement
|
FAQ and Help
|
Contact Us
|
Today's Headlines
Copyright
© 2010, World Publishing Co. All rights reserved.
Advanced Search