KOSU Radio
December 3, 2010
Filed by Michael Cross December 3, 2010 A new study shows Oklahoma ranks 45th in voter turnout in the nation, 36th in voter turnout and 31st in discussing politics with friends and family. The study was released by a national civic organization and students, faculty and staff at the University of Central Oklahoma. The first of its kind study in the state is called the Oklahoma Civic Health Index of 2010 and was instigated by the National Conference on Citizenship. The organization started in 2006 looking at just three states, but now is up to 13 including Oklahoma. Director of Programming and New Media Kristen Campbell says the Congressionally Charted Non–Profit measures, tracks and promotes civic activity. “We really think that for our communities to be the most healthy they need to have an active and engaged citizenry, a vibrant democracy. Democracy is a participatory process it’s not something that happens in Washington.” But, participation in government is dropping. While Oklahoma saw a record turnout in 2004, the percentage of voters casting ballots in 2008 dropped to 58.8% compared to a national average of nearly 64% and this past November it wasn’t even 50%. It’s not just voters who aren’t participating, but candidates. UCO Political Science Professor Jan Hart says proponents of term limits promised more participation in the process which wasn’t the case in this past election for state lawmakers. “There were 125 races for state legislatures on the Oklahoma ballots. 53 of those, 53 out of 125, only had one name on the ballot. To me you can’t have voter competition if you only have one name on the ballot. There’s no choice.” For perspective in the past election less than 7% of the seats in the US House were uncontested, and that was a record high. Doctor Hart says the other problem with Oklahoma voting is ballot access. “In the 2004 presidential elections Oklahoma had the two major parties, Democrat and Republican, on the ballot, but we were the only state in the entire nation that only had two candidates on the ballot for president.” Another problem is money. The cost of running political campaigns in the state has doubled since 1998. While Oklahoma ranks 7th in donating to Republican Federal Candidates, it ranks 43rd in giving to Democratic Federal Candidates. Also, in 2008 the top ten political action committees in terms of total money given to candidates didn’t include either political party, but rather energy and health PACs. Then there’s political engagement between elections. Ashley Schubert a Political Science graduate student says politicians do a good job of talking issues before elections, but not afterward. She says part of the blame could go to local television news stations which only seem to talk about politics until votes are cast. “Then once the elections are over, people kind of forget about politics. In that sense I do think the media is very of important, because that’s the only way a lot of Oklahomans know what’s going on at the state capitol and in politics.” Kristin Campbell says the studies since 2006 have opened the eyes of some lawmakers. In Florida, the state legislature is currently working on the Sandra Day O’Connor Civic Education Act. “It was an introduction of a piece of legislation that requires new classes, new curriculum in schools, and assessment testing in civics testing as part of a high school graduation requirement.” The 28–year–old Oklahoma native now living in Washington, DC says more needs to be done to educate her generation. “I think a lot of people in our generation say, I am just not interested in politics. I don’t get politics, but I am really angry about that pothole down the street that hasn’t been filled. And, I think what do you think that is?” On the plus side, the study did find that Oklahoma ranks 5th in families eating dinner together several times a week, 7th in participation in religious activities and 19th in volunteerism in 2009. The study can be found on the web at www.ncoc.net/OK