No. We live in a Republic.

Okay. Trick question, but that’s (I hope obvious) to make a point here. Sometimes when the shrieking about something is so loud you have to put your hands over your ears (hypothetically), it’s Kabuki Theater, not reality.

The shrieking SB1027 received was LOUD and varied. There were even conservatives up in arms. Consequently, we had the author of the bill – Senator David Bullard – on with us to WALK US THROUGH the bill. You can see the full live video on our Rumble and our YouTube channel.

Early on in the bill’s legislative cycle, I had an elected official call me and ask what I thought of the bill. I hadn’t read it, so I read it quickly (it’s not a big bill) and decided pretty early on in my reading that Bullard was on to something. I never had a problem with the bill from the beginning – it made sense to me.

Lots of state questions that have made it to the ballot have defied my ability to figure out how they got there. They just didn’t make sense for Oklahoma. Criminal justice ‘reform’, medical marijuana and the expansion of Medicaid are a few that pop into my head virtually immediately.

I’ve known we’ve had a problem writing our gists (the gist of the question is the ‘explanation’ you see on the ballot) for a long time. If you can’t read the gist of the state question and know EXACTLY what you’re voting for (or against), there is a HUGE problem. Citizens get snookered that way. They think they’re voting one way, but then they weren’t voting the way they thought they were voting because they didn’t understand the gist.

The first part of SB1027 fixes that (don’t forget, NEW LANGUAGE in a bill is UNDERLINED).

Section 2 amends the existing language to specify that YOU MUST BE A REGISTERED OKLAHOMA VOTER to circulate an initiative petition in Oklahoma. This is huge. Part of the biggest problem we’ve had with initiative petitions is that people come into Oklahoma from outside the state with initiative petitions that will try to change Oklahoma values – do you REALLY believe MOST people in Oklahoma wanted medical marijuana, or expanded Medicaid?

Section 3 does several things:

Any person collecting signatures HAS TO display a statement saying whether or not they’re getting paid to collect signatures.
If you feel you were duped by the petitioner and/or you didn’t understand the gist as it was written, you can petition the Secretary of State (SOS) to have your name removed from the petition.
Any organization paying a person to collect signatures SHALL LIVE IN THE STATE and any person being paid to collect signatures SHALL LIVE IN THE STATE and SHALL DISCLOSE TO THE SOS WHO IS PAYING THEM and they can’t be paid per sheet or signature, they must be paid an hourly wage. (This is huge for accountability.)
Anyone paying petition circulators SHALL turn in a weekly summary of expenditures to be published on the SOS website until conclusion of the petition.
Petitions amending state statute SHALL have 11.5% the number of votes cast during the most recent statewide general election for Governor for each county.
Petitions amending the Oklahoma Constitution SHALL have 20.8% the number of votes cast during the most recent statewide general election for Governor for each county.

Section 4 adds that the ballot title may not contain words or euphemisms (etc.), that would confuse or deceive voters.

Section 5 declares the law to have severability (if one part is struck down, the rest stays).

Section 6 declares the law to be in effect for any initiative petition upon which the SOS has not yet set a circulation date and section 7 declares an emergency so that it can take effect upon passage.

Now, seriously. Where is/are the problems here? Why wouldn’t we want petitioners to live in the state, declare who’s paying them and not get paid by someone – or organization – who/that doesn’t live/reside in the state? You don’t really want to understand the State Question (or initiative petition) you’re voting for (or signing)? Come on. This is a no-brainer.

The only thing about which there was some concern during the podcast, was how the law would be monitored – how do we make sure initiative petitioners are following the law? There were a couple of ideas mentioned during the podcast and Senator Bullard asked people to send him the suggestions that were voiced, but truly, it’s up to WE THE PEOPLE! We need to be informed (and now that you are, you need to inform your neighbor) of the provisions in this now state law.

The other thing that’s up to WE THE PEOPLE is NOT to put a bunch of garbage on social media that isn’t true. In the clip below, Bullard talks about how the ‘talk’ about the bill ran over the ‘truth’ of the bill. We can’t do that. We need to READ THE BILLS OURSELVES, not just push the ‘share’ button from our social media page.

Learn to look up bills on the state legislature webpage, or on a webpage called LegiScan. It’s not hard. All you do is type in the number of the bill on which you want information and it pops right up! You can read everything from the number of amendments the bill has to the number of votes the bill has. Truly, this is something EVERY member of WE THE PEOPLE need to learn how to do for themselves. We can’t trust social media, but we can trust ourselves.

Now, just because I want you to know what the bill says for yourself, here it is below. Read it and SHARE this post with your friends and neighbors today!

On Valentine’s Day, former SD15 candidate, Robert Keyes caught us up on his fight for election transparency in Oklahoma. It was a very interesting podcast and you can find the full live version on our YouTube and Rumble channels.

Robert ran for Senate against Lisa Standridge, the wife of previous office holder, Rob Standridge, who had termed out of office.

It is Keyes’ contention – which has not been proven wrong – that Lisa Standridge’s campaign manager broke Oklahoma election law by notarizing and collecting absentee ballots – something neither members of a campaign or the candidate can do according to existing state law.

Keyes lost by 51 votes and following the close of the election, his team of attorneys were able to document 41 instances of election irregularities – fifty-one of which would overturn the results. Robert recounts that the State Election Board (SEB) was not only not helpful in helping him get to the bottom of these irregularities, they actually blocked him from discovering information.

After the irregularities were discovered and documented – including the little nugget below

– Keyes and his attorneys came to an agreement with the Standridge’s attorneys and the SEB at a closed meeting that would allow the SEB to certify the election for Standridge while insuring Keyes that – among other points – the irregularities would be investigated. Unfortunately, when it was time to implement the agreement – both parties refused to uphold the agreement as promised to Keyes.

Dissatisfied with the outcome, Keyes – court reported documents from the meeting in hand – took both the SEB and the Standridge’s to the Oklahoma Supreme Court. The Supreme Court punted the case to Cleveland County Justice Jeff Virgin, who refused to make a ruling.

As an aside, the Honorable Judge Virgin is the son of longtime Norman attorney Blake Virgin, and the brother of Emily Virgin, formerly serving as a Democrat in the Oklahoma House of Representatives.

Hopefully, you’re scratching your head in wonder at why NO ONE in the commission of justice in central Oklahoma wants to attempt to UPHOLD JUSTICE and if you’re not, you should be. This situation should create actual fear in the citizenry of Oklahoma that Democracy in a state where all 77 counties voted for Trump – is dead.

Below is the Keyes case before the Oklahoma Supreme Court. Scroll through it and you will see the MANY, MANY examples of irregularities in Keyes’ election. This isn’t a complaint without merit from Keyes. There is substantial information here to suggest that our state’s election process is marred – and possibly improper – as I alleged during the time I was an alternate Oklahoma County Election Board member.

This is a short video of Mr. Keyes talking about the frustration he has surrounding this election – the number of irregularities that were found and the lack of ANY justice official willing to investigate the findings. In fact, he says that one of the most frustrating thing about his entire election has been that he believes there are bigger problems with the SEB than just one election.

Another very unfortunate and frustrating issue adjacent to this case, is the fact that Senate Pro Temp Lonnie Paxton – who narrowly won election to the Pro Temp post over challenger David Bullard – has authored SB654, which removes the 2 sections of law allegedly broken by Standridge’s campaign. While I’m all for repealing laws, these two pieces of Oklahoma election law SHOULD NOT BE REMOVED and, to me, it’s actually quite suspicious that this bill was authored in the first place after a close campaign with irregularities in which both the SEB and Standridges refused to uphold an agreed upon resolution.

This entire case should be concerning to every Oklahoma interested in election integrity in Oklahoma. We’ll continue to follow this case and bring you updates, however, we ask that you share this information with your friends – no matter WHAT political affiliation they may be – because without elections we can trust, we have very little by which to call ourselves Americans – let alone Oklahomans.

ADDENDUM: I think it might be important to note here that in 2008, Glenn Coffee – a long-time Oklahoma attorney – was Senate Co-Pro Temp. He appointed Paul Ziriax as Secretary of the State Election Board and Secretary of the Senate. Coffee was followed by Pro Temp Brian Bingman who continued Ziriax’ appointment. Bingman was followed by Pro Temp Greg Treat who also continued Ziriax’ appointment. Treat was followed by Pro Temp Lonnie Paxton, who also continued Ziriax’ appointment.

It is also interesting to note that Glenn Coffee has been hired to be the ‘Senior Legal Consultant’ to the Senate Republican Caucus this year by Ryan Overholt, the Senate’s Chief of Staff. Coffee, who made millions of dollars on the state’s opioid lawsuit, has left a thriving law practice to come to work for the Oklahoma Senate for $12,500 per month for 12 months. This seems like a step down, which prompts a number of questions.

Senate Leader Chooses Paul Ziriax for Dual Post in Senate/Election Board

November 20, 2008 | 12:32am

Senate President Pro Tempore Designate Glenn Coffee has announced his choice for Secretary of the Senate and State Election Board Secretary. Paul Ziriax, who has held the title of Leadership Assistant at the State Senate for the past six years, has been named to the dual posts.

The Pro Tempore selects the Secretary of the Senate, who must then be elected by a majority of members. Under Oklahoma law that individual also serves as State Election Board Secretary.

“Paul’s experience in both state and national government positions have prepared him well for these new responsibilities,” Coffee said. “I also know him to be a man of tremendous character and intellect, with an abiding respect for the political process and democracy. I know he will do an outstanding job on behalf of the people of Oklahoma.”

“Oklahoma has a national reputation for the efficient way in which our elections are conducted, and Michael Clingman should be commended for the great job he’s done as Secretary of the Senate and Secretary of the State Election Board,” stated Coffee. “I wish Michael the best of luck in his new role as director of the Office of State Finance.”

Before coming to work for the Senate, Ziriax was the Chief of staff and press secretary to former U.S. Congressman Wes Watkins. He serves on the State Capitol Preservation Commission and is a member of the Legislative Information and Communication Staff Section and Leadership Staff Section of the National Conference of State Legislatures. Ziriax earned a degree in Business Administration and Finance from Oklahoma State University, and is a member of the OSU Alumni Association.

The Secretary of the Senate directs the floor staff and oversees the preparation of daily printing and general publications and the content of forms used by the Senate for various reports and procedures. The Secretary is the custodian of all Senate records and provides assistance to the President Pro Tempore and the presiding officer. The State Election Board Secretary is the chief administrative officer of the State Election Board.

“I am deeply honored by the faith Senator Coffee has placed in me,” Ziriax said. “I have some big shoes to fill. I am thrilled with this new opportunity, and look forward to continuing my public service.”

Ziriax, age 37, is a native of Claremore, Oklahoma, but currently resides in Edmond with his wife, Lisa, and their nearly 2-year-old daughter, Allie. They are members of Faith Bible Church in Edmond.

The full Senate will vote on Ziriax’s appointment when they return for an organizational day on January 6, 2009.

Contact info

Senator Coffee’s Office: (405) 521-5636

ROPE Report

Tag

Oklahoma elections

OK Initiative Petition Legislation – Does It Threaten Our ‘Democracy’?

Former SD15 Candidate Robert Keyes, His Fight For Election Integrity, The Evidence In His Case And SB654 To Remove The Election Law At The Center Of It All

Senate Leader Chooses Paul Ziriax for Dual Post in Senate/Election Board