Duffe Challenges Panel's Composition

Clarke Duffe, unsuccessful Independent candidate for Congress last year, has filed a lawsuit that claims Independent voters are excluded from service on the redistricting committee.

Duffe's lawsuit contends that the voting class in Oklahoma is recognized to include Democratic, Republican and independent voters. But independents are excluded from being selected to serve on the redistricting panel.

State Question 748 created a seven-person commission, with one Republican and one Democrat each would be appointed by the governor, House speaker and Senate president pro tem. The lieutenant governor would serve as chairman and would be a nonvoting member.

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