OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma Farm Report reported this past Friday that on Thursday a challenge had been filed regarding the ballot title for State Question 820.
John Stotts, Karma Robinson and Mary Chris Barth are listed as the petitioners who are challenging that the Title of the State Question does not let the voter know what they are really voting for.
The Oklahoma Supreme Court appears to be hurrying along the process and possibly could still force the Oklahoma Election Board to include the Recreational Marijuana question on the ballot at this seemingly late date.
On Friday the Court said "Respondents (supporters of 820) may respond to Petitioners Application to Assume Original Jurisdiction and objection to the rewritten ballot title of State Question 820 on or before 12 Noon, September 19, 2022. Oral Presentation is not contemplated."
By saying no oral presentation is likely, has the Court already made up its mind? The supporters of SQ 820 would normally have 10 days to respond but this Friday order reduced that to two business days.
Does State Attorney General John O'Connor, representing the state Election Board, have the right to appeal a Court order if they decide to instruct the Board to include SQ 820 on the ballots that are supposed to be mailed out at the end of this week to Oklahoma voters overseas?
Agricultural groups and the State Chamber of Commerce have argued that short-circuiting the process is a bad idea.