After deciding 17 state questions in the past two general elections, Oklahoma voters this year currently will have only a couple of items to consider in November.
This year's pared-down ballot reflects what some political strategists say is a temporary shelving of social issues that boosted conservative turnout at the polls. Republicans have strengthened their grip on state government since 2010.
"It takes a long time when you go in the booth and start reading all that," Senate President Pro Tem Brian Bingman (R-Sapulpa) says. "I know we had talked about trying to make a conscious effort to not do that. If we saw something that needed to go to the vote of the people, certainly we would pursue that."
Past questions asked voters to make English the state's official language and to ban courts from using Islamic law when deciding cases.
This year, the questions deal with tax relief for spouses of military personnel killed in the line of duty and asking voters to clarify that a resident's military service doesn't prohibit the person from serving in a state job.
Petitions are being circulated for other issues.
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