Voting fight likely not over
Absentee voting in Oklahoma, generally an afterthought during elections, has become a front-burner issue during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Oklahoma is one of three states that requires absentee ballots to be notarized. The League of Women Voters, and other groups, said this presented a “substantial obstacle” to those who didn't want to vote in person during the pandemic. Oklahoma's primary elections are June 30, the same day voters will decide whether to expand Medicare here.
The Oklahoma Supreme Court struck down the notarization requirement Monday and said voters could return their absentee ballots with a signed statement acknowledging, under the penalty of perjury, that they filled out the ballot.
That led the Republicancontrolled Legislature to swiftly pass a bill, signed Thursday by Gov. Kevin Stitt, that reinstates the notarization requirement, but with exceptions that will be in place June 30. When emergency declarations are in effect, voters can forgo getting their ballots notarized and instead sign them and include a photocopy of an ID such as a driver's license.
This displeased Democrats who said the provision was an unfair burden. Yet many progressives view any votingrelated ID requirements as unfair and unnecessary.
Republicans in the Legislature know Oklahoma voters want safeguards at the polling place — the state's voter ID law won 74% approval from the people in 2010 — and expect they will be OK with safeguards for mail-in ballots, too, coronavirus or not. Either way, it's safe to assume this fight is far from over.
Momentum for municipal funding change?
Might comments this week by U.S. Sen. James Lankford help the cause of those pushing to change how Oklahoma's municipalities are funded? We hope so. Cities and towns may use property tax revenue for capital improvements and economic development, but not to fund such things as public safety. Thus, they are overly reliant on sales tax revenue, which can fluctuate greatly and which is expected to fall considerably this year due to COVID-19. Lankford, R-Oklahoma City, noted that property tax revenue won't move during this time. “So long term in the state, we should evaluate how we actually do our state funding.” Legislative attempts to do so have failed, including one by Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt when he was in the state Senate. “We just need to get it done,” Holt said in a recent online chat with readers of The Oklahoman. “This crisis is another reminder of why it needs to change.” Amen.
A potential boost for OKC economy
News that Costco wants to build an operations and customer care center in Oklahoma City is well timed indeed. The Okahoman's Steve Lackmeyer reported on the development Friday. The project would include hiring 500 people in the first year and reaching 1,044 jobs in year three, with an average salary of $59,740. Costco is asking for $3 million to support purchase of the property and creation of the eCommerce and travel division jobs. If the city's Economic Development Trust approves the request, the application will go the city council for consideration. “The potential of more than 1,000 new jobs to the market would be of significant benefit to the region,” said Roy Williams, president of the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber. He's right. This is a potential bright spot at a time when the economy is being battered by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Medical marijuana sales keep surging
Oklahoma's medical marijuana industry is thriving. Figures from the Oklahoma Tax Commission show dispensaries remitted nearly $9.8 million in taxes during April. That was a record sum, far surpassing the record of $7.8 million set in March. The $61.4 million spent on marijuana in April averages out to about $217 per licensed patient. Dispensaries were deemed essential businesses when coronavirus restrictions were put in place, and the head of the Oklahoma Cannabis Industry Association says that as a result, “patients were afforded the ability to take their medicine on a more regular basis and sample a broad range of available medications.” Whatever the explanation, Oklahoma's marijuana industry has not been hurt by the COVID-19 pandemic.