Special Elections cost Oklahomans hundreds of thousands of dollars and minimize voter participation.  We can reduce wasteful government spending by simplifying the election schedule and requiring state questions to appear on general election ballots. Special elections should be used only when required to fill a leadership gap, not when lawmakers seek to minimize voter participation by avoiding the general election.

Governor Stitt has proposed limiting special elections, but his proposal allows more than 8 elections in odd-numbered years and more than 4 elections in even-numbered years. It is absurd to believe that this schedule will encourage participation and fight voter fatigue, as his administration claims. I will support legislation that reduces government waste by requiring state questions to be included on general election ballots and limiting the use of special elections.