August 2021
Statewide Ballot Issues
Find Links To 2022
Local Ballot Issues
Access Local Election
Voter Resources

#ARballot
How Many Signatures Are Needed For Ballot Issues?
Arkansas is one of 15 states where citizens can ask voters to consider a referendum on a new state law, propose a state law and a constitutional amendment.

But in order to get their issue on a ballot, a group must collect a certain number of voter signatures from at least 15 counties across Arkansas. This geographic distribution requirement is where many groups using unpaid volunteers seem to stall.

The Arkansas Constitution ties the number of required voter signatures to the number of people who voted for governor in the last election.

Step A: Collect Voter Signatures
Constitutional amendments require voter signatures equaling 10% of the number of people who voted in the last governor's election, or 89,151 for the 2022 ballot. State laws require 8%, or 71,321 signatures.

Step B: Collect Voter Signatures In 15 Counties
Petitions must contain voter signatures from at least 15 counties to qualify for the ballot.

Step C: Geographic Requirements
In each of the 15 counties, petitions for constitutional amendments must contain voter signatures representing 5% of the number of people in that county who voted for governor in the last election. State laws require signatures equaling 4%.

Example of Step 3's Signature Compliance
The chart above comparing the county with the lowest number of governor votes (Calhoun County) in 2018 to the county with the highest number of governor votes (Pulaski County), and shows how many voters in those counties would need to sign 2022 statewide petitions.

See the list of signature thresholds by county taken from the Secretary of State's handbook. The deadline to submit petitions is July 8, 2022.

As of August 26, the Secretary of State's Office has received seven proposed amendments and state laws for the November 2022 ballot. Proposals from the legislature and those filed by citizen groups so far can be found below.
2022 Arkansas Legislative Proposals
Arkansas representatives and senators voted in spring 2021 to put the three proposed constitutional amendments listed below on the November 2022 General Election ballot. The Secretary of State's Office has not assigned issue numbers yet for these measures.
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 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 create the "Arkansas Religious Freedom Amendment"
2022 Citizen Initiative Proposals
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 filing a ballot title with the Secretary of State's Office, collecting voter signatures across the state and submitting the petitions for verification. The Board of Election Commissioners also must approve the ballot title.

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%.
Submitted to the Secretary of State
Act 376 of 2019 requires ballot issue groups to submit a copy of their ballot title to the Secretary of State's Office before collecting voter signatures.

Ballot titles that have been filed for the 2022 ballot include:

July 13, 2021 - A Constitutional Amendment to Repeal the Authorization for Casino Gaming in Pope County - A proposal to remove Pope County as one of the locations in Arkansas where casino gaming is allowed under a previous constitutional amendment was submitted by Larry Walker of Fair Play for Arkansas - 2022.


May 25, 2021 - Arkansas Cannabis Industry Amendment - A proposal to make the cannabis industry legal in Arkansas was submitted by Clair Danner.

May 20, 2021 - The Arkansas Term Limits Amendment - A proposal to change term limits for state legislators was submitted by Arkansas Term Limits.

Feb. 4, 2021 - The Arkansas Township Amendment of 2022 - A proposal that would create another layer of local government - township assemblies - among other things was submitted by Academy of Democracy.

Jan. 5, 2021 - An Amendment Concerning Jurors' Rights - A proposal that would impact the legislature's ability to pass laws regarding jury awards in lawsuits over injury or death was submitted. The person who submitted the proposal did not provide their contact information to the Secretary of State's Office.

May 22, 2020 - The Arkansas Recreational Marijuana Amendment of 2022 - A proposal to legalize adult marijuana use and to allow certain marijuana convictions to be expunged was submitted by Arkansas True Grass.

Tell Us ...
Do you follow us on Twitter?
Yes
No
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 8, Issue 9. 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."

The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.