Committee Approves Penalties for Ineligible Candidates

Legislation to require unqualified candidates to pay for
the resulting election costs passed the House Rules Committee this week thanks to state Rep. Phil Richardson.

House Bill 1394, by Richardson, requires an unqualified candidate to withdraw one week after being declared unqualified based on residency by the Oklahoma Election Board or be liable for all fees and costs associated with the contest for candidacy.

Richardson said the bill was inspired by an incident in his district.

"An individual ran for a board seat at the Canadian Valley Technology Center in El Reno who was not qualified because the person lived outside the district. Even after the individual was made aware of ineligibility, they did not plan to withdraw," said Richardson, R-Minco. "The school had to send a school notary to the individual's residency to get them to sign the documents to withdraw in the allotted time. If the individual had not finally withdrawn, the school would have been out almost $30,000 to hold what was actually an uncontested election. That would have been very unfair and just plain wrong for the school to have to foot the bill for someone else's lack of responsibility."

Richardson noted that if a person who is unqualified
somehow gets elected, there would have to be another
election with even more costs involved.

"This bill puts a stop to any chance for someone to
create unnecessary election costs and pass the buck
to the taxpayers," Richardson said. "There's no reason
for the citizens to pay for an election involving a candidate who isn't even eligible to run.

Sen. Ford Renews Push to Prevent Election Fraud

Sen. Ford Renews Push
to Prevent Election Fraud

For digital audio


Sen. John Ford (R - Dist 29) is renewing his effort to protect Oklahomans against election fraud. Ford has filed Senate Bill 1150 which will require voters to show identification when they cast their ballots. While similar legislation has gone unheard in past sessions, Ford said it was important to keep fighting for this measure.

“The role voters play in determining the future of our cities, counties, state and nation is just too important to leave it open to fraud,” said Ford. “Senate Bill 1150 will protect the integrity of the process by helping ensure that only duly registered voters participate in elections.”


Ford, who represents Craig, Nowata and Washington Counties, said his measure simply requires voters to show identification at the polls. Voters could use a valid voter identification card, driver license, passport, state identification card, a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check or paycheck, or any other government document showing the voter’s name and address.

“No one thinks twice when asked for identification when writing a check or for commercial air travel,” Ford said. “When you consider the critical roll elections play in determining our very future, it is simply good sense to make sure we do everything possible to protect that future by ensuring citizens who are registered voters are the ones making those decisions.”

If approved, SB 1150 would take effect on January 1, 2009.