I apologize for not making myself clear...I am not suggesting that everyone be required to vote. What I am sugesting is that any election (for it to be a valid one) should have a requirement that votes from at least 50% of the population in that area be required for it to pass (not just the majority of those who decided to show up, which is often a small minority of the registered voters, which is only about half of the population of an area). If the 50% threshold isn't met, then you try again until the threshold is met. If all these issues are THAT important, it would require that those interested in getting out the vote, would do just that...get out the vote.

Larry.....I just read your post and I haven't had time to give your entire proposal the kind of thought needed to form a worthwhile opinion. However, when it comes to ad valorem, I have had much time (many, many years) to come to the opinion that I now hold. I do believe that it is important to keep the 60 percent majority vote in place when it comes to ad valorem tax hikes. When voters are placing a tax on a certain segment of the population and many of those who cast the ballots will not experience that tax, it is important to exercise some method to protect the segment of citizens who will receive and be responsible for that tax burden. Right now, it seems to me that the best way to do that is to maintain the 60 percent voting margin in school bond elections. I think that is very important. Ad Valorem tax is one of the most unfair taxes that is now in place. Yet, I can see the necessity for that tax. Even so, it seems imperative to make sure that such a tax cannot be levied by a simple majority vote.

School bond elections are set for particular times of the year, and it's amazing that millions and billions of dollars of extended or higher taxes can be raised with 3% or less of the registered voters. How about if you don't have 25% of the registered vote a simple majority (no more 60%), then it goes to the next November General Election ballot? Don't we want more voters casting votes? Heck, that will never work. The powers that be would never let the legislators pass something like that, and many legislators don't want those powers that be to get upset. Your MILLAGE rate won't go up, but I'll bet the value of homes have gone up and that means your TAXES will go up--that's what happens when people buy real estate.

Agreed.

Thank you, Deann! I was/am concerned to think that he was not allowed to vote!! Naturally, it makes me want to understand if there was any basis or if his right to vote was violated. It is both outrageous and of great concern to consider that anyone who is eligible to vote would be denied that opportunity.

C--Larry's explanation is on another forum: http://newsok.com/article/3143211/1191863019 Apparently, he lives in the Putnam City school district, not OKC.

Larry...your thesis stating that any election which does not result in 50 percent of the population voting should be null and void is flawed. Ours is a free society. We have the privilege of the ballot box and we can vote if we so choose. However, we should not be forced to do so. It is unfortunate that people take the privilege for granted and fail to exercise it. However, when the day comes that we are forced to do so, we will have lost a basic freedom. Because of that liberty to choose whether or not to cast our vote....elections are contingent upon those who do vote. To declare that elections were null and void due to the terms that you have stated...could render the ballot box totally obsolete. How then would you propose to choose officials and make other decisions which are to be made via the ballot box? What would be the mode for making this decisions? _________A mark of good citizenship is to exercise one's voting privilege. It is an individual's responsibility to do so....however, to call an election null and void because eligible people fail to register and/or to vote would be akin to "throwing the baby out with the bath water," so to speak. Two wrongs ( 50 percent failing to vote and nullifying elections when less than 50 percent do turn out to mark the ballot) won't make a "right." It is important to retain our right to vote...but never, never should we be forced to do so.__________________________As for your not being allowed to vote, would you care to elaborate? Where you given explanation that you would be willing to share? It seems important for people to know just why you were not allowed to cast your ballot since you have brought it to the attention of this forum. However, I respect your right to remain silent, of course.

So basically, Piedmont high school taught the test. There's some good news!

Larry, you should report that you were denied to 4201 N. Lincoln Boulevard | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73105-5201 Phone (405) 713-1515 | Fax (405) 713-7191. They will need the precient number, approx. time and the reason you were denied. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - As for your statement ANY ELECTION THAT FAILS TO GET AT LEAST 50% OF THE POPULATION TO VOTE NEEDS TO BE NULL AND VOID, I agree 100% in theory. There are a few problems, #1 being that I'm not sure 50% are elegible to register (counting children, felons, etc). Even if they were, fewer than 50% of eligible voters are registered. SAD, SAD state of affairs.

I would have voted NO (but was denied my constitutional right to vote at the polling place even though my name was in their “book”) for the following reasons: Many of the items listed were supposedly already taken care of with Maps for Kids. NEW CLASSROOMS: “Every Oklahoma City School District student will be in a new or renovated building by 2012” — Mayor Cornett (Maps for Kids Transformations newsletter, Spring 2007). SCHOOL BUSES: “...the funds have added 160 new buses...” — (Maps for Kids Transformations newsletter, Spring 2007). TECHNOLOGY UPGRADES: “...and will continue to add new technology systems.” — (Maps for Kids Transformations newsletter, Spring 2007). SECURITY SYSTEMS: “...providing safe and secure campuses.” — (Maps for Kids Transformations newsletter, Spring 2007), “A security system will be installed at every campus that not only monitors the building, including all doorways, but alerts the district office and the authorities...” — (Maps for Kids Transformations newsletter, Fall 2006). All of the above to the tune of nearly $700 million dollars. MAPS FOR KIDS WAS PASSED WITH THE PROMISE OF HIGHER TEST SCORES. Concerning academic progress, perhaps a better approach (instead of throwing another $248.3 million at the problem) would to be adopting the methods of Piedmont High School principle Todd Glasgow. According to an Oklahoman article (10/2/07), the most dramatic improvement was in math: test scores went from a 38% passing rate to 91%. The article explained: "Glasgow attributed the increase in test scores to a new approach he tried to implement last year. The first step of his multifaceted plan was to reduce test anxiety for his students. When the school year started in Aug. 2006, Glasgow said teachers almost immediately started preparing students for the state exams with sample exams that were taken every couple of weeks. Also, two weeks before the state exams were administered, all of the school’s students were required to attend two evening review sessions for the algebra and biology portions of the exams. Glasgow said he wanted to ensure that all of the students went into the exams well-fed. Local businesses donated free meals, such as breakfast burritos and sandwiches, for each of the school’s students." While I can understand the desire to “accentuate the positive” (test scores are up, BUT ONLY MARGINALLY 2% TO 8%), to ignore the fact that our schools are failing a huge number of students is completely unacceptable (25% to 40% FAILING or being “left behind”). One would assume that the data best supporting the claims would be used (in the chart that was in the Tansformations newsletter), if that is indeed the case the situation (improvement) in the other grades must be even worse. ANY ELECTION THAT FAILS TO GET AT LEAST 50% OF THE POPULATION TO VOTE NEEDS TO BE NULL AND VOID (this way a true majority would be making the decisions, as it stands now every election is determined by a minority).

My wise old dad said we should "never vote against the children, they are the future". I've followed that advice all my adult life!

Since it's not suppose to raise taxes, why not!

Taxes are lower in Mustang and it is closer and cleaner.

This teacher has only one thought: thank you OKC for your support.