September 2022
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Voters Will Have Say on
Issue 4, Court Decides
Arkansas will vote Nov. 8 whether to allow licenses to grow and sell non-medical marijuana in the state.

The Arkansas Supreme Court on Sept. 22 ruled that votes cast for or against Issue 4 will be counted.


Responsible Growth Arkansas appealed to the court after the Arkansas Board of Election Commissioners wouldn't certify their ballot title for the proposal, which would allow adults 21 and older to legally possess one once of marijuana for non-medical purposes.

Under Issue 4, adults could purchase recreational marijuana from 80 new dispensaries allowed under the proposal or from existing medical marijuana dispensaries in the state.


"Amendment 7's reservation to the people of the initiative power lies at the heart of our democratic institutions," the majority court opinion stated, citing a 1994 court opinion.

"We give the ballot title a liberal construction and interpretation in order that it secure the purposes of reserving to the people its power. And we recognize that it is impossible to prepare a ballot title that would suit everyone. With these standards in mind, we conclude that the ballot title at issue is complete enough to convey an intelligible idea of the scope and import of the proposed amendment."

Arkansas is one of five states, including Missouri, voting on opening up marijuana sales to adults. Sponsors in a sixth state, Oklahoma, found out this week they would have to wait until 2024 for their recreational marijuana issue to be on the ballot.

Justice Shawn Womack wrote in his dissent opinion that he thought the ballot title was partially misleading and the state had been correct to reject it.

"The proposed ballot title claims it is adding the requirement for child-proof packaging and restrictions on child-targeted advertising in its proposed amendment; it is not. In fact, the proposed amendment will repeal the existing safeguards against child consumption and replace them with far less stringent ones," Womack wrote.
Correction
Our previous September newsletter said the Secretary of State was required to submit information to the court about the number of signatures sponsors submitted and whether it was sufficient to qualify for the ballot. We appreciate the reader who brought it to our attention that the order was for whether the ballot title was sufficient.

Secretary of State John Thurston followed the procedural orders and declared the ballot title insufficient because the Board of Election Commissioners decision to decline the ballot title.

Read more about the law change that brought election commissioners into the process.
2022 Arkansas Ballot Issues Voter Guide Now Available
Arkansas voters in every county now have a neutral resource available to them to learn more about proposed constitutional amendments on their November ballot.

The 2022 Arkansas Ballot Issue Voter Guide is available online at uaex.uada.edu/ballot. Printed versions of this voter guide will be available in early October at county extension offices.

The voter guide:
  • Shows how proposals will appear on the ballot
  • Answers basic questions about each issue
  • Shares reasons why people may support or oppose the proposals 
  • Includes a worksheet to record your voting plans
Constitutional Amendments on the 2022 Ballot
Below are links to the four constitutional amendments on the 2022 ballot. Find our fact sheets on each of the issues.
A constitutional amendment to allow the General Assembly to convene in extraordinary session upon the issuance of a joint written proclamation of the speaker of the House of Representatives and the president pro tempore of the Senate or upon the submission of a written proclamation containing the signatures of at least 2/3 of the members of the House of Representatives and at least 2/3 of the members of the Senate to the speaker of the House of Representatives and the president pro tempore of the Senate requesting that the General Assembly convene in extraordinary session
A constitutional amendment to reform certain measures presented to voters, to be known as the "Constitutional Amendment and Ballot Initiative Reform Amendment”
A constitutional amendment to create the "Arkansas Religious Freedom Amendment"
An amendment to authorize the possession, personal use, and consumption of cannabis by adults, to authorize the cultivation and sale of cannabis by licensed commercial facilities, and to provide for the regulation of those facilities.
2022 Arkansas Election Dates
Oct. 11 - Last day to register to vote ahead of General Election

Oct. 24 - Early voting starts for General Election, court elections, school elections

Nov. 8 - General Election, court elections, school elections

Dec. 6 - Runoff election, if needed, for General Election and school elections
Public Policy Center | uaex.uada.edu/ballot
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.

Our goals are to:
  • Increase citizen knowledge, awareness and understanding of public issues;
  • Enhance public participation in decisions regarding public issues, and
  • Help citizens craft, evaluate and implement alternative solutions to public issues.

News & Notes Volume 9, Issue 11. This e-mail newsletter is shared with Cooperative Extension Service agents, subscribers from the general public and election officials or educators identified by the Public Policy Center. To unsubscribe, click below on "instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe."

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