OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Rob Standridge, R-Norman, has introduced Senate Resolution 23, a measure condemning states that seek to exclude Donald Trump from the presidential ballot and calling on the Oklahoma Secretary of State to remove President Joe Biden for reasons related to the safety, security and prosperity of Oklahomans.
SR 23 addresses the concerning trend observed in some states where efforts are being made to prevent Donald Trump, the 45th President of the United States, from appearing on future presidential ballots, those states convicting Donald Trump of insurrection without due process, regardless of the fact he has never been formally charged nor convicted of this crime. These states are drawing from an antiquated provision in the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution intended to prevent armed insurrectionists from the southern slave states during the US Civil War from running for and holding office. Our justice system has ruled in the past that not only must a citizen be tried and convicted of insurrection under the 14th Amendment for it to take effect, but the citizen is also entitled to exhaust their appeal process before the provision is enforced.
If states will ignore due process and remove the leading contender for the Republican nomination for President from their ballots then it is only appropriate that considering the financial damage the inept running of the US economy has caused Oklahomans, and the real security risk to Oklahomans caused by the inability or unwillingness to secure our southern border, that our Secretary of State remove President Joe Biden from our ballot for President.
“Preserving the democratic ideals that our nation was built upon, one of which is due process which guarantees a citizen is innocent until proven guilty, is of utmost importance,” Standridge said. “Attempting to exclude candidates from the ballot undermines the principles of fairness and representation, but if we are to do so then we must analyze all Presidential candidates based on the harm or good their service in office does or will provide for our citizens.”
SR 23 can be considered when session begins February 5, 2024.
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