Latest news with #HouseElectionsandEthicsCommittee
Yahoo
23-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Jenkins bill requiring excuses for absentee voting by mail passes committee
A bill that would remove the 'no' from no-excuse absentee voting by mail in Oklahoma has passed through committee. In a 4-3 vote Monday the House Elections and Ethics Committee passed an amended version of House Bill 1515. Currently no excuse is required to vote absentee by mail nor in-person absentee. As it was introduced, the bill authored by freshman Rep. Molly Jenkins (R-Coyle) would require any voter applying for an absentee ballot to provide a statement describing why they cannot vote either in-person absentee or on election day due to work, school or travel. The bill amended and passed by the House committee would create a checklist with the following exceptions or excuses for voting by mail: absent from the jurisdiction, illness or disability, employment-related, education-related, military service, religion, serving as an election official, being 75 or older and jury duty. Jenkins said the goal was to enhance security, transparency and integrity of our voting system. One of the committee members to eventually vote nay, Rep. Mickey Dollens (D-Oklahoma City), asked Jenkins in Monday's meeting what the problem the ballot measure would solve. 'Personal responsibility is the cornerstone of our Democratic Republic and this is just one more measure to strengthen the integrity of voting,' Jenkins said. Chairman Jim Olsen (R-Roland) said he looked at it as just another step for a process that already requires an application process. Dollens asked Jenkins if she could cite an example of voter fraud among Oklahomans in the last president election, while Jenkins said she could not, she said the process is so the situation doesn't arise. 'I can't think of any other fundamental right in the U.S. that requires a citizen to explain why they are exercising it, why should voting be any different,' Dollens said. There also seemed to be some confusion, even among the authors, of how often the excuse portion of the application process would need to be. Voters can currently request an entire calendar year's worth of ballots in December. Committee members could not figure out if that meant the excuse would only be required once, at the same time of the application, or for each election. Jenkins initially said the excuse would be good for the entire year, except for illness. State Election Board Secretary Paul Ziriax said the state law would mean an excuse would be required for every election. Rep. Clay Staires (R-Skiatook) asked if the goal was to discourage absentee ballots. 'The goal of this is to strengthen the integrity of the election,' Jenkins said. 'When a person has to write down a reason for what they're doing, perhaps it will give them pause to think about voting is not necessarily something that should just be a convenience. This is a very serious situation and people need to take it seriously. I believe even our current new president is wanting to have one-day voting. This is something that we need to move towards to strengthen the integrity of elections.' HB 1515 now moves on to the House Government Oversight Committee.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Voting by mail? Oklahoma bill would require voters to give reason for absentee ballots
More than one out of every four Oklahomans voted early or by mail during the November presidential election. One lawmaker wants to know why. Logan County's newest state representative, Republican Molly Jenkins, filed House Bill 1515 this session, which would require anyone who votes early or requests an absentee ballot to vote by mail, to explain why they're doing so. Jenkins says her goal is "enhancing security, transparency and integrity of voting system." Some lawmakers have raised concerns, however, that the information required is intrusive, unnecessary or could discourage absentee voting in Oklahoma. Jenkins gives nine allowable reasons why someone won't be voting in-person on Election Day: Absence from jurisdiction (out of town) Illness or disability Employment-related Education-related Military service Religion Serving as an election official Seventy-five (75) years of age or older Serving on jury duty Voters would have to give a reason or else their application would be denied. Absentee ballot applications are kept for 24 months and are a matter of public record, so a person's reason for wanting an absentee ballot could be made public. Jenkins' bill narrowly advanced from the House Elections and Ethics Committee on Monday. The vote was briefly tied among the assigned committee members, but the Oklahoma House's second-in-command Anthony Moore, R-Clinton, was called into the room so he could cast the tie-breaking vote. The lawmakers voting against Jenkins' bill were Reps. Mickey Dollens, D-Oklahoma City; Clay Staires, R-Skiatook; and Denise Crosswhite Hader, R-Piedmont. During the committee meeting this week, Dollens said that asking about a person's disability or religion is intrusive, questioning why the government needs to know this information just to vote early or by mail. More: Oklahoma's election system '100% accurate,' says chief election official "The idea behind this bill is to strengthen the integrity of our voting system, and when a person is required to list a reason, it gives them pause to think about what they're doing and why they're doing it," replied Jenkins, a Republican from Coyle. "This is simply another measure to strengthen the integrity of our absentee ballot voting, instead of just having no-excuse absentee ballots." Jenkins also cited President Donald Trump's apparent desire to allow only a single day for American citizens to cast a ballot. In a reply to Staires' question about whether the bill is meant to discourage absentee voting, Jenkins said voting is a serious situation that people need to take seriously. "Voting is not necessarily something that should just be a convenience," Jenkins said. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma HB 1515 would require voters give reason to vote by mail, early
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Lawmakers wants Oklahoma absentee voters to explain their absence
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — The House Elections and Ethics Committee heard a bill from freshman Representative Molly Jenkins on Monday that would require Oklahomans to give a reason for requesting an absentee ballot. 'Voting is a right that we have,' said Jenkins, R-Coyle. 'This is simply a measure that will allow us the opportunity to make sure that people are being responsible.' If passed, voters would have to check a box on a list of reasons for asking to vote absentee when requesting an absentee ballot. Those include several reasons such as illness, disability, military service, religion, and age.'What's the purpose here? What are we trying to solve?' said Rep. Mickey Dollens, D-Oklahoma City. 'We know in the last presidential election there is no cases of absentee voter fraud. So I think the purpose of this is to make it harder for people to vote.' Dollens, who is also in the Election and Ethics committee, voted against the legislation. He said the bill was cumbersome and required an explanation every time an absentee ballot was requested. Changes to Oklahoma teacher bonus legislation moves forward 'No other U.S. fundamental right requires citizens to explain why they want to do something,' said Dollens. 'When you go to buy a gun, you don't have to explain why you want a gun. If you want to go to a church, you don't have to explain why you chose that church.' Other lawmakers questioned if the move would do more harm than good by discouraging absentee ballots. Jenkins disagreed.'This is simply another measure to help strengthen the integrity of our absentee ballot voting instead of just simply having no excuse absentee ballots,' said Jenkins. Lawmakers ended up voting in a 3-3 tie on the legislation. Speaker Pro Tem Anthony Moore, who was not at the meeting for discussions, came in and casted the deciding vote, voting for the bill. It will now move forward. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
