Oklahoma voters to determine fate of several issues

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- When Oklahoma voters head to the polls for November's general election, they will be deciding more than just the fate of political candidates.<br><br>At least five state questions

Monday, April 26th 2004, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- When Oklahoma voters head to the polls for November's general election, they will be deciding more than just the fate of political candidates.

At least five state questions will also appear on the ballot, and some lawmakers are hoping to add a few more.

A proposed tobacco tax increase to fund health care and a possible motor fuel tax to help pay for transportation haven't been considered in the Legislature yet. If they pass, both would appear on the ballot as state questions.

The most recent addition to the November ballot is a proposed constitutional amendment to define marriage as between one man and one woman. Same-sex marriages conducted in other states would not be recognized in Oklahoma and issuing a marriage license to gay couples would be a misdemeanor under the amendment.

The gay marriage proposal has been approved by the House and Senate and sent to the Secretary of State's office for the assignment of a state question number. Barring a legal challenge, the question will be placed before voters in November.

Other questions set for the ballot include Gov. Brad Henry's plan for a state lottery to fund education and a companion state question that would provide a constitutional "lock box" to designate lottery revenues strictly for education.

Two other state questions -- one dealing with the use of certain city, town and county taxes and fees and another that limits the amount of revenue the Legislature can spend from the Constitutional Reserve Fund -- will also be decided by voters in November.

There are two ways to submit a state question to a vote of the people. The Legislature must approve a legislative referendum and send it to a vote. The petition process allows citizens to place an issue on the ballot by obtaining the signatures of a specified percentage of voters in the last general election.

Although some Democratic leaders have expressed concern that the gay marriage proposal and the state lottery question might draw more conservative voters to the polls, University of Oklahoma political science professor Keith Gaddie disagrees.

"I can't see those issues would increase turnout any more than a presidential election would," Gaddie said. "That's already the highest-turnout ballot in a four-year cycle. There's not much you can do to drive up turnout beyond that."

With recent polling data suggesting close to 70 percent of Oklahomans approve a constitutional ban on gay marriages, Gaddie said that state question should pass easily. However, he said the lottery proposal could be a close vote.

"The lottery is not a sure thing," he said. "If anything, I think a presidential contest might be good for the lottery.

"Presidential elections turn out more casual voters, which often make it difficult for an intense, ideologically defined group to have a bigger impact on turnout."

House Republican leader Todd Hiett agrees that turnout among GOP voters probably won't be affected much by the gay marriage question. But he said having the issue on the ballot with a lottery proposal makes for a clear division among voters.

"I think this year's ballot will be a real message to the state of Oklahoma in terms of who does outnumber who in the state," said Hiett, R-Kellyville. "Is it those that uphold Christian principles and moral values ... or is it those that do not?

"I will be just as interested as everyone else to see the final outcome."

Another item that could appear on the November ballot is a proposal to overturn a new law permitting pari-mutuel horse racing tracks to have electronic games now played only in American Indian casinos.

Oklahomans for Good Government, a group led by longtime gambling opponent Rep. Forrest Claunch, has launched a referendum petition against the law, which was passed by the Legislature and signed by the governor earlier this year.

The group will have 90 days after adjournment to collect 51,781 signatures to force a statewide vote on the issue.