2006 Constitutional Questions
State Question 724 - In Short: This measure would block all legislative pay to a legislator who is found guilty of any criminal offense that requires jail or prison time.Actual Ballot Text:
This measure amends Article V, Section 21 of the State Constitution. That Section deals with State pay to legislators. The amendment restricts State pay to some legislators. The pay restriction would apply to some legislators while in jail or prison. The pay restriction would apply to legislators found guilty of a crime. It would also apply to legislators who plead either guilty or no contest. Affected legislators must return any State pay received for time while in jail or prison.
Result: Question 724 passed overwhelmingly with nearly 88% of voters in support.
State Question 725 - In Short: This measure allows money to be removed from the Rainy Day Fund, under certain circumstances, to assist at-risk manufacturers with modernization.
Actual Ballot Text:
This measure amends the State Constitution. It amends Section 23 of Article 10. The measure deals with the Constitutional Reserve Fund also known as the Rainy Day Fund. The measure allows money to be spent from the Rainy Day Fund. The purpose of the authorized spending is to retain employment for state residents by helping at-risk manufacturers. Payments from the Fund would be used to encourage such manufacturers to make investments in Oklahoma. All such payments from the Fund must be unanimously approved by three State officers. Those officers are the Governor and the head of the Senate and House of Representatives. Those officers could only approve payments recommended by an independent committee. Such spending is allowed in years when there is Eighty Million Dollars or more in the Fund and other conditions are met. Such spending is limited to Ten Million Dollars a year. The help given to a manufacturer is limited to ten percent of its in-State capital investments. The Legislature could make laws to carry out the amendment.
Result: Question 725 passed with 53.5% of voters in support.
State Question 733 - In Short: State law currently forbids liquor stores to be open on election days. This measure would change remove that ban.
Actual Ballot Text:
This measure amends the Oklahoma Constitution. It amends Article 28. This Article deals with sales of alcoholic beverages. Section 6 of Article 28 bans the sale of alcoholic beverages by package stores on certain days. Package store sales of these beverages are prohibited on election days while the polls are open. This measure would remove the ban on sales on election days. If this measure passes, package stores could sell alcoholic beverages on election days.
Result: Question 733 passed with 52.5% of voters in support.
State Question 734 - In Short: This measure would place a time limit on applying for ad valorem tax exemptions on goods shipped into Oklahoma and kept in state for under 90 days.
Actual Ballot Text:
This measure amends the Oklahoma Constitution. It amends Section 6A of Article 10. This section provides an exemption from property tax. The exemption applies to goods that are shipped into the state, but which do not remain in the state for more than ninety days. This is sometimes known as the freeport exemption. This measure would allow laws to be enacted. The laws could provide for an application process to claim this exemption. The laws could require the application to be filed by a certain date. The laws could require certain information to be included with the application. The application would be filed with the county assessor.
Result: Question 734 passed with just over 63% of voters in support.
Even More Election Information
See this article for information on the Governor's race. In addition, the Oklahoma State Election Board maintains extensive lists of all state and national races on their website. View a full list in Adobe PDF format here.If you are not yet registered to vote in Oklahoma, find a full how-to for the process here.
Once registered, you can vote using one of several methods:
- By absentee ballot after filling out an application.
- Using several early opportunities at their County Election Board.
- Or at their regular polling location on November 7th.
