State Question 805 Headed For Ballot

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The Oklahoma Supreme Court has determined the Yes on 805 campaign’s 248,521 counted signatures are sufficient to place State Question 805 on the November 3 ballot. The ballot measure’s 10-day challenge period has passed with no challenges issued, and it next goes to the Oklahoma State Election Board for placement on the next available general election ballot this coming November.

Once placed on a ballot, Oklahomans will be able to vote on State Question 805, a reform that would end the use of repeat sentence penalties for nonviolent offenses.

These penalties add years to a prison sentence for a nonviolent offense if the person has been convicted of a nonviolent offense in the past, often resulting in excessive sentences for people who have been charged with minor, nonviolent offenses. As a result, Oklahoma’s prisons are overcrowded, and taxpayers are spending over half a billion dollars on corrections each year without improving public safety.

SQ 805 will help reduce Oklahoma’s prison population and save taxpayers up to $186 million over the next 10 years.

Yes on 805 submitted around 260,000 signatures to the Oklahoma Secretary of State’s office on June 1, 2020. On July 6, 2020, the Secretary of State counted 248,521 signatures and filed them with the Oklahoma Supreme Court for a determination of sufficiency.

“It’s been a long road to get to this point, but what has remained consistent throughout is the support of Oklahomans who know that the way we’ve been handling criminal justice in our state is not working,” said Sarah Edwards, president of Yes on 805. “We’re pleased to say that Oklahomans are one step closer to having the opportunity to make their voices heard this November.”

“Our state is wasting money doling out sentences for nonviolent offenses that are out of proportion to the crimes. Data overwhelmingly shows that resources such as mental health and substance abuse treatment, education and job training are better investments to correct the underlying issue which led to the offense and end the cycle of repeat offenses. Oklahomans have risen to the occasion when criminal justice reform has been on the ballot in the past, and we are confident they will do so again with State Question 805.”

State Question 805 is now ready to be sent to the Oklahoma State Election Board for placement on the November 2020 ballot.