2012 Ballot Questions

In the Nov. 6 general election, Oklahoma voters will cast ballots for president and state lawmakers, and weigh in on six statewide questions and county-specific ballot measures.

We’ll be updating this guide regularly, so check back as we get closer to the election.

State Questions

Voters in all counties will vote ‘yes’ or ‘no’ on six state questions. StateImpact has prepared explainers on the four economic and jobs-related state questions:

State Question 758

Is Capping Assessments on Property Taxes a Cut or a Hike?

The measure would decrease the cap on increases in “fair cash value” of property taxes. (UPDATED: 11-02-12)

---

State Question 759

Ending Affirmative Action in Oklahoma, Or Banning Equal Opportunity?

The measure would disallow “affirmative action” programs as they relate to contracting, education and employment from the state or any Oklahoma county, city, town or school district.

---

State Question 764

Bonds for Important Water Projects, or State Credit Risk With Inadequate Oversight?

This measure amends a section of the state constitution to allow the Oklahoma Water Resources Board to issue $300 million in bonds for water, storm water and sewage projects.

---

State Question 766

Is Oklahoma ‘Taxing Ideas,’ and Could Schools Suffer if We Stopped?

This measure amends a section of the state constitution, which exempts some intangible personal property from ad valorem property taxation — a state tax imposed on the value of property.  (UPDATED: 11-02-12)

---

State Questions 762 and 765 are on the November 2012 ballot, too, but don’t directly involve economic or jobs-related issues. Here are the basics on those, and links where you can find more information:

State Question 762

If approved, this measure would remove the governor from the parole process for people convicted of some nonviolent crimes.

For more:

• KOSU Radio: “A Look at State Question 762 on November’s Ballot“
• KWGS Radio: “Oklahoma Parole Ballot Issue Drawing Opposition“
• Tulsa World: “Fallin’s flip-flop on SQ 762 perplexing“

State Question 765

If approved, this measure effectively abolishes the commission that oversees the Department of Human of Services, KOSU’s Michael Cross reports.

For more:

• KOSU Radio: “Fate of DHS Commission in Voters’ Hands“
• Associated Press: “SQ 765 would revamp Oklahoma’s troubled DHS“
• Norman Transcript: “SQ 765 will reform child welfare“

County Questions

Vision2

What Tulsans Need to Know About Vision2 Before the Big Vote

Only voters in Tulsa County will get to weigh in on Vision2, but the sales tax initative has profound implications for northeastern Oklahoma.

Roughly 30 percent of the state’s GDP is generated in Tulsa, state commerce officials say. And Tulsa’s economy is tied to aerospace, which Vision2’s Proposition 1 would direct funds to.

At the city level, Tulsa has been inspired by Oklahoma City’s success with its MAPS sales tax spending, which has been credited with spurring a revitalized downtown.

Latest stories

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---