Public Policy Center | uaex.uada.edu/ballot
March 2024
Local Newspapers, Drive Through Signings: Ballot Issue Groups Try to Reach Voters
Ballot issue groups wanting to qualify their proposed constitutional amendments and state laws for the November ballot are fanning out across Arkansas to collect signatures in some familiar and new ways.

With just under 100 days to go until the state's July 5th signature deadline, citizen initiative groups are using a regional approach in training and signature collection strategies to meet new requirements that they collect voter signatures in 50 of Arkansas' 75 counties. Previously Arkansas law required signatures from at least 15 counties.

In March, the Arkansas Attorney General certified two more proposals for signature gathering: a constitutional amendment seeking to require schools receiving public funds be held to the same standards and a constitutional amendment to alter a previously-approved casino amendment.

Sponsors of two government transparency proposals are turning to local newspapers as their signature collection sites. Any Arkansan can use the Freedom of Information Act to obtain public records or attend public meetings, but local journalists are often the most well known users of the law.

Groups are also collecting signatures at local businesses, libraries, universities, and through drive-through collection events in parking lots across Arkansas. As the weather warms up, campaigns will also be at festivals and fairs.

Shannie Jackson of Arkansas Period Poverty Project described the group seeking to end a sales tax on period products and diapers as a very small group. Jackson said they're struggling with the new 50-county requirement.

"We definitely need more volunteers and collecting in southern Arkansas in the Delta area," Jackson said. They have tried to mirroring larger ballot issue groups, dividing the 75 counties into 15 sections, with a captain over five counties.

Opponents to the Arkansas Abortion Amendment of 2024 are also showing up at events to lobby voters against signing the petitions with their Decline to Sign campaign. The Catholic Diocese of Little Rock has created promotional materials to share on church bulletins explaining why they think people should not sign the petitions to put the measure on the November ballot.

How Many Voter Signatures Are Needed?
To qualify for a spot on the November ballot, ballot issue groups seeking constitutional amendments must collect at least 90,704 signatures from Arkansas registered voters. Sponsors of an Act, or a state law, must collect at least 72,563 voter signatures. A certain percentage of those signatures must come from at least 50 of the state's 75 counties.

By signing a petition, a voter is expressing support for the issue to be on the ballot for voters to decide. The deadline to submit petitions is July 5, 2024.
Casino Issue Reappears
The last remaining casino license authorized by voters in 2018 would be eliminated under a proposed constitutional amendment filed in March by Pope County residents.

Voters in 2018 approved a statewide constitutional amendment specifically authorizing casinos at Oaklawn and at Southland. Two additional licenses would be issued, one in Jefferson County and one in Pope County. Amendment 100 placed the group overseeing horse and dog racing in charge of the casinos and issuing the two remaining licenses.

The license in Pope County has been tied up in lawsuits ever since. The Racing Commission approved new rules this month that would again open applications for the license in May.

The proposed amendment filed by attorney Elizabeth Robben Murray asks voters to remove Pope County from Amendment 100 and to require any future casino licenses to be approved at a countywide election.
Go Into the Weeds on Our Blog
Sponsors of nine potential ballot issues are approved for collecting voter signatures.

Our voter guide on the Arkansas statewide ballot issues will be online in September after we know what measures qualify for the ballot. Until then, we have created individual blog posts on each of the certified ballot issues with links to publicly available information.










You can also find information about Issue 1, a proposed amendment referred by the Legislature to expand lottery scholarships, at uaex.uada.edu/issue1.

Have Questions?
What are you wondering about these potential ballot issues? Have specific questions? Share those questions with us via this anonymous space.
Ballot Issue Lawsuits
Two lawsuits are underway involving 2024 ballot issues.

A lawsuit over the new requirement to collect voter signatures in 50 counties - up from 15 counties - continues in Pulaski County Circuit Court.

Judge Herbert Wright on March 5 issued an order rejecting the state's claim of sovereign immunity. He wrote that he was not making any findings at that time regarding the constitutionality of Act 236.

The state has again asked for the case to be dismissed while the plaintiffs, Sen. Bryan King and the League of Women Voters, have asked Judge Herbert Wright to find the new law unconstitutional.


Supporters of using paper ballots in Arkansas elections filed a lawsuit in February with the Arkansas Supreme Court also seeking to find the new county signature requirement unconstitutional. Conrad Reynolds and the Arkansas Voter Integrity Initiative also want the Supreme Court to void a law that returned the ballot title review process back to the Attorney General's Office. The court originally planned to expedite the case but then changed its mind after court documents exceeded word counts. The group's attorney this month filed a letter asking for oral arguments.


On the 2024 Ballot - From the Legislature
For the first time since 1986, Arkansas legislators referred only one constitutional amendment to voters.

Issue 1 - A constitutional amendment to provide that lottery proceeds may be used to fund or provide scholarships and grants to Arkansas citizens enrolled in vocational-technical schools and technical institutes. The current law only includes two-year and four-year colleges and universities.
Citizens Proposals for 2024 Ballot
Arkansas is one of 15 states where citizens have the right to put constitutional amendments, state laws and referendums on the ballot for voters to decide.

The citizen initiative process involves (1) filing a ballot title with the Attorney General's Office, (2) collecting voter signatures across the state, and (3) submitting signatures to the Secretary of State's Office for verification.

Referendums require voter signatures equaling 6% of the number of people who voted in the last governor's election. State laws require 8%, and constitutional amendments require 10%.

Attorney General Opinions
The Attorney General is responsible for reviewing the title and text of potential ballot issues from the public. Ballot issue groups can collect voter signatures only after the Attorney General verifies the ballot title and popular name honestly, intelligibly and fairly describe the purpose of a proposed constitutional amendment or act. The AG's Office releases opinions either approving or rejecting ballot titles.

Access Our Full List: Tracking 2024 Arkansas Ballot Issues

Recently Rejected Citizen Initiative Ballot Titles

  • March 4, 2024 - An amendment requiring local voter approval in a countywide special election for certain new casino licenses and repealing authority to issue a casino license in Pope County, Arkansas - A proposal to remove Pope County from a constitutional amendment allowing casinos in Arkansas and calling for local elections on future casinos was rejected because of missing information and a title that references existing law by statute without explaining it, according to Opinion No. 2024-034. Elizabeth Robben Murray of Little Rock submitted the proposed amendment.


Approved Citizen Initiative Ballot Titles

  • Oct. 10, 2023 - An Act to Exempt Feminine Hygiene Products and Diapers from Sales and Use Tax - A proposal to exempt period products and diapers from local and state sales tax was approved for signature gathering, according to Opinion No. 2023-092. David Couch of Little Rock submitted the proposed law.

  • Jan. 12, 2024 - Absentee Voting Amendment of 2024 - A proposal that would in part allow only the voter to handle their absentee ballot, and would also prohibit online voting, was approved for signature gathering, according to Opinion No. 2023-132. Clinton Lancaster of Little Rock submitted the proposed amendment.

  • Jan. 23, 2024 - Arkansas Abortion Amendment of 2024 - A proposal that would allow abortion was approved for signature gathering, according to Opinion No. 2024-004. Steven Nichols of Little Rock submitted the proposed amendment

  • Jan. 24, 2024 - The Arkansas Government Disclosure Amendment of 2024 - A proposed constitutional amendment related to public meetings, notices and records was approved for signature gathering, according to Opinion No. 2024-005. David Couch of Little Rock and Jen Standerfer of Bentonville submitted the proposed amendment.

  • Jan. 29, 2024 - The Arkansas Government Disclosure Act of 2024 - A proposal regarding public records, notices and meetings, along with the creation of a new commission, according to Opinion No. 2024-20. David Couch of Little Rock and Jen Standerfer of Bentonville submitted the proposed law.

  • Feb. 2, 2024 - The Arkansas Historic or Special Interest Vehicle Act of 2024 - A proposal to change when a vehicle can qualify for antique license plates was approved for signature gathering, according to Opinion No. 2024-017. David Dinwiddie of Pine Bluff submitted the proposed law.

  • Feb. 20, 2024 - Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment of 2024 - A proposal to expand the state's medical marijuana program was approved for signature gathering, according to Opinion No. 2024-028. Erika Gee of Little Rock submitted the proposed amendment.

  • Feb. 29, 2024 - Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment of 2024 - An updated version of the proposal approved for signature gathering on Feb. 20 was accepted as a replacement, according to Opinion No. 2024-037. Stephen Lancaster of Little Rock submitted the proposed amendment.

  • March 1, 2024 - The Arkansas Educational Rights Amendment of 2024 - A proposal requiring any school receiving state or local funds to have identical academic standards and identical standards for accreditation, including assessments of students and schools based on such standards was approved for signature gathering, according to Opinion No. 2024-033. Bill Kopsky of Little Rock submitted the proposed amendment.

  • March 20, 2024 - An amendment requiring local voter approval in a countywide special election for certain new casino licenses and repealing authority to issue a casino license in Pope County, Arkansas - A proposal to remove Pope County from the state constitution as a location where casino gaming is allowed and to establish a requirement for local elections on future casinos was approved for signature gathering, according to Opinion No. 2024-046. Elizabeth Robben Murray of Little Rock submitted the proposed amendment.
PPC in the Media
Below is a selection of recent Public Policy Center media coverage.

KUAF
Our Public Policy Center's Kristin Netterstrom Higgins sat down with Matthew Moore of KUAF earlier this month to talk about some of the basics of ballot issues in Arkansas, as well as a quick overview of what's circulating.
Voter Education Resources
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State Ballot Issues
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Blog
Read our department blog at Strengthening Arkansas Communities


Ballot Issue Tracker
Links to AG Opinions for 2024 ballot

Archive
Research past Arkansas ballot issues in our Archive

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The Public Policy Center was established in 2004 to provide Arkansans with timely, credible, unaligned and research-based information and education about public issues. Public issues are defined as pressing and emerging issues that involve multiple points of view and have widespread consequences.

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  • Increase citizen knowledge, awareness and understanding of public issues;
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  • Help citizens craft, evaluate and implement alternative solutions to public issues.

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