Archives for October 2010

The Oklahoman has an editorial out today supporting passage of SQ 750 in order to make the state initiative process more open and accessible to citizens:

CapitolBeatOK.com, a nonpartisan news site that provides information on Oklahoma politics had a piece Wednesday about the radio ad Citizens in Charge is currently running in the state urging a ‘YES’ vote on SQ 750:

Citizens in Charge is running a radio ad in Oklahoma until election day urging state voters to vote ‘YES’ on State Question 750.

If passed, State Question 750 will streamline Oklahoma’s petition signature requirements for placing measures on the ballot and make it easier for citizens to utilize the process.

sq750

(MADISON, WI) – The overwhelming majority of Wisconsinites want a direct say in government through statewide initiative and referendum rights, according to a recent poll.
Citizens in Charge Foundation, a national voter rights group focused on the ballot initiative and referendum process and the John K. MacIver Institute for Public Policy, a free market think tank in Wisconsin, released the results of an opinion poll conducted in the state on voter support for initiative and referendum rights. The results were clear, with 63% of voters supporting and only 16% opposing.

While Citizens in Charge focuses on initiative and referendum petitioning, nomination petition law often has a major effect on other petitions. We have been following the case of Herb Lux, who sought to run as an independent candidate for Congress in the 2010 general election, but wasn’t allowed to circulate his own petitions. On Wednesday Lux asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit to protect his petition rights. Many legal observers believe the case will go to the Supreme Court.

(LAKE RIDGE, VA) – Today, Citizens in Charge, a national voter rights group focused on protecting the ballot initiative and referendum process, began running a radio ad in Oklahoma urging citizens to vote ”˜YES’ on State Question 750.

“Oklahoma is currently the most difficult state in the country for voters to place an initiative on the ballot,” said Citizens in Charge President Paul Jacob. “State Question 750 is an opportunity to make Oklahoma’s initiative and referendum process more open and accessible to citizens.”

LeafOne of the greatest strengths of the initiative process is that it allows citizens to deal with issues or present positions that politician are unlikely to every tackle. Among those issues is drug policy reform, and the legalization/decriminalization of marijuana in particular.

Citizens in Charge takes no position whatsoever on ballot measures - either from the people or the legislature - unless they relate to the initiative or referendum process. This November one of those initiatives is Arizona Proposition 112.

Citizens in Charge takes no position whatsoever on ballot measures - either from the people or the legislature - unless they relate to the initiative or referendum process. This November one of those initiatives is Oklahoma State Question 750.

Yes on OK S.Q. 750

 

Citizens in Charge takes no position whatsoever on ballot measures - either from the people or the legislature - unless they relate to the initiative or referendum process. This November one of those initiatives is Arizona Prop. 109.

 Prop 109 is a back door power grab by state legislators

 

Earlier this week, we received a new advisory from the Ohio Secretary of State making those involved in the initiative & referendum process – from county officials to proponents and petition circulators – aware of the law in light of the Citizens in Charge, et al. v. Brunner ruling striking down Ohio’s unnecessarily draconian disclosure requirements on initiative petitions.

We are glad to see that the SoS is making officials statewide aware of this change. The CIC v Brunner case is an important one in working to protect citizen initiative rights.

A new statewide survey out from the Public Policy Institute of California asked California voters their opinions on a wide range of national and statewide political issues and candidates.