The Oklahoma House of Representatives made a decisive push towards election reform, passing a bill that would change the way tied elections are handled in the state. Authored by Rep. Tammy Townley, R-Ardmore, House Bill 1678 requires a second election to resolve a voting tie, whether it appears in primary, runoff, or general elections. The move comes as a direct response to an eyebrow-raising tied result in Carter County last year, where the outcome of a sheriff's race was determined by nothing more than a random drawing, as reported by the Oklahoma House of Representatives.
Currently, Oklahoma law allows for a tied vote to be settled in such a hit-or-miss fashion, but Rep. Townley believes in a different path. "This bill ensures elections are decided by voters, not by chance," Townley said, according to the Oklahoma House of Representatives website. "I was surprised to learn that, races could be settled by a random drawing. With the technology we have, there’s no reason a tied election can’t go to a runoff. This bill takes that step to make our elections fair and transparent."
Under the new legislation, if a tie occurs after a second vote, the election board will hold a public drawing to decide the outcome. HB1678 challenges the idea that the democratic process should be decided by chance, arguing that it should be in the hands of the voters.
The bill garnered varying levels of support, passing with a vote of 56-28. It now advances to the Senate for further consideration and, if successful there, would only need the governor's signature to become law. "Oklahomans deserve a process that is fair and reflects their votes not, one that relies on chance," Townley added, showing her commitment to refining the wheels of democracy. If the bill is enacted, changes to the system won’t take effect until November 1, providing more than enough time for officials and voters alike to adjust to the new procedures, as stated by the Oklahoma House of Representatives.
