Lewis Arthur

Every adult citizen who is registered to vote in Oklahoma is an Oklahoman. And our state constitution gives Oklahomans the ability to sign petitions to place questions on the statewide ballot. In spite of that, Senate Bill 1027 attempted to create a new dynamic where most registered citizens who live in Oklahoma City and Tulsa were no longer considered sufficiently Oklahoman. Under Senate Bill 1027, most Oklahomans in Oklahoma City and Tulsa would no longer be eligible to add an effective signature to an active petition that had not yet reached its constitutionally required statewide threshold. Senate Bill 1027 made a clear statement to residents of Oklahoma City and Tulsa that we were simply not Oklahoman enough to contribute toward the required number of signatures to successfully complete an initiative petition. Senate Bill 1027 was immoral and undemocratic. More importantly, it was clearly unconstitutional. I commend the Oklahoma Supreme Court for striking down this unjust and unconstitutional law, in its entirety. Today’s ruling is correct on the law and correct on the policy. The Oklahoma Supreme Court deserves our deepest gratitude tonight for doing the right thing. If people want to make policy in the state of Oklahoma, they have to include all Oklahomans, including those who might live in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. The people of Oklahoma City and Tulsa are proud Oklahomans. We will not be disenfranchised, our signatures will count, and our votes will count.