November 2021
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Ballot Issue Groups Report Small Amounts Raised
Not much money has been raised or spent on 2022 ballot issue campaigns so far, according to records filed with the Arkansas Ethics Commission.

Arkansas law requires ballot issue groups to file with the Ethics Commission when they raise or spend money on a proposed ballot measure.

Of the 12 potential statewide ballot issue groups we're tracking, only half have filed their measure with both the Secretary of State's Office and the Ethics Commission. A total of $20,955 has been raised among three of these groups.

  • Arkansas True Grass reported raising $14,070 and spending $11,492.

  • Committee to Eliminate Property Taxes from Arkansas reported raising $85 and spending $3.

  • Fair Play for Arkansas 2022 reported raising $6,800 and spending $2,665.

Arkansas has seen millions of dollars raised in recent elections on statewide ballot measures. At this time in 2019, ballot issue groups had already raised more than $1.3 million. Looking back to 2017, a single ballot issue had attracted $1.39 million in support and opposition funding.

Financial reports filed with the Arkansas Ethics Commission can be found at www.arkansasethics.com/filings

The reports show donations and expenses. For 2022, most expenses so far have been for advertising and printing petitions.

As of Nov. 29, 2021, titles for eight ballot issues and two referendums have been filed with the Secretary of State's Office for the November 2022 election. Proposals from the legislature and those filed by citizen groups 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 will assign issue numbers for these measures in the spring.
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:
Nov. 4, 2021 - Arkansas Adult Use and Expungement Marijuana Amendment - A proposed constitutional amendment to legalize marijuana for personal use and allow people convicted of certain past marijuana-related crimes to seek expungement of past convictions was submitted. No name is attached to the document, but according to multiple media reports, Melissa Fults filed the proposal.

Oct. 14, 2021 - Referendum Petition - HB1982/Act 1114 of 2021 - A referendum on Act 1114 of 2021 that set new boundaries for Arkansas' four U.S. Representatives districts.

Oct. 14, 2021 - Referendum Petition - SB743/Act 1116 of 2021 - A referendum on Act 1116 of 2021 that set new boundaries for Arkansas' four U.S. House of Representatives districts.

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.

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.

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