Jan. 19, 2016
Groups busy gathering signatures for ballot issues, a look ahead
Signature gathering is well underway for issues that could make the November 2016 ballot. Let us take a look ahead for important dates to keep in mind. Keep up on election dates here.

The deadline for submission of signatures for the proposed ballot initiatives is July 8.

A initiated amendment petition must contain at least 84,859 signatures and the required numbers from each of at least fifteen counties.

An initiated act petition must contain at least 67,887 signatures and the required numbers from each of at least fifteen counties.

More information can be found about the requirements through the Arkansas Secretary of State 2015-2016 Initiatives and Referenda Handbook.

Arkansans have until February 1 to register to vote in the March 1 primary elections. If you have not registered or need to change your address, go here for a voter registration form, information about registration and voter eligibility. 

The deadline to submit a voter registration form to be eligible to vote on November 8 for the general election and on the ballot measures is October 10. 

On Jan. 13, the Arkansas Attorney General issued an opinion on a proposed ballot title to make the medical use of marijuana legal. The proposed amendment was rejected.  The AG's opinion stated that, "you may, if you wish, redesign the proposed measure and ballot title, and then resubmit."

Three other petitions regarding marijuana production and consumption have been approved for signature gathering. Other a
pproved petitions circulating for the 2016 ballot include proposals regarding term limits for state legislators, alcohol sales, election requirements for legalizing alcohol sales, limiting the number of amendments the legislature can refer to the public, campaign finance, and the inclusion of gender identity and sexual orientation as a protected class under state law. Read more about these citizen initiatives below.

In addition to these potential measures, legislators have referred three constitutional amendments to voters. The language of those amendments can be found below.

Get engaged. Get informed. Over the next several months, the Public Policy Center will research all referred ballot issues, and will publish fact sheets and other educational materials about the issues ahead of the November 2016 election. 
 

We welcome your questions, which could be included in future ballot issue Q&As. Send us your question to publicpolicycenter@uaex.edu.


The Public Policy Center will continue to follow these issues and keep you updated on the 2016 ballot measures.

Be Ahead of the Curve - Discover 2016 Ballot Issue Information

Legislative Ballot Issues

Read up on the three ballot issues referred by the legislature.

Attorney General Opinions

Find out what ballot issues are coming from citizen petitions and have been approved for signature gathering.
News About Ballot Issues

Click here for mentions of ballot issues or election law on news blogs and websites.


 
Did you know?
Former U.S. Senator and Arkansas Governor, Dale Bumpers died on Jan. 1 in Little Rock, AR. Services were held on Jan. 10. Senator Bumpers was known for his strong stance against constitutional amendments. In a recent interview with his son, Brent Bumpers, the Associated Press reported that he wanted to be remembered for his many efforts to prevent amendments to the constitution. 
 
Source: Associated Press, Ken Miller, Ex-Arkansas governor

AGopinions
Looking Forward - Potential 2016 Ballot Issues from Citizens
Attorney General Opinions

The Attorney General is responsible for reviewing the language and titles of potential ballot issues submitted to voters by the public. Ballot issue groups can circulate petitions only after the Attorney General verifies that the ballot title and popular name honestly, intelligibly and fairly describe the purpose of a proposed constitutional amendment or act. The following are recent Attorney General opinions regarding potential ballot issues:
 
Rejected Ballot Proposals

Jan. 13, 2016 - The Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment of 2016 

proposal to make the medical use of marijuana legal under state law and establish a system for regulating the cultivation, acquisition and distribution was rejected because of multiple recommendations additions or changes in the text (Opinion No. 2015-148). The proposal was submitted by David A. Couch of Little Rock.  

Ballot proposals approved for signature gathering

Nov. 30, 2015 - Four Year Terms of Office for Elected County Officials, Justices of the Peace, and Constables - A proposal seeking to increase the terms for holding offices from two to four years for county officials was approved for signature gathering. If approved, county officials would begin these longer terms of service in 2017. David Dinwiddie of Pine Bluff, submitted the measure, according to  Opinion No. 2015-139.

Nov. 2, 2015 -  Reducing From 3 to 1 the Number of Constitutional Amendments That May Be Proposed by the General Assembly Under Article 19, Section 22 - The sponsor of an approved proposed amendment resubmitted the measure with a different ballot title. This proposed amendment was previously rejected twice due to the ballot title being considered misleading according to the Attorney General's Opinion No. 2015-107 and Opinion No. 2015-115. The Attorney General found each of the two titles to be inaccurate and again changed the ballot title to what is listed above. Frederick N. Scott, a spokesperson for the Little Red Hen Committee, submitted the measure, according to Opinion No. 2015-124

Aug. 6, 2015 - Arkansas Term Limits Amendment of 2016 - A proposal to reduce the number of years a state senator or representative can serve in office was certified for signature gathering, according to Opinion No. 2015-089. The proposal would repeal Amendment 94, which voters passed in 2014 and set term limits of 16 years for members of the General Assembly. Brenda V. Taylor, an attorney in Fayetteville, submitted the measure.

July 24, 2015 - The Campaign Finance Act of 2016 - This previously approved ballot proposal (Opinion No. 2015-059) to create campaign spending disclosure requirements was recertified after a new, less confusing ballot title was submitted. The Attorney General had said the original title would require the voter to be an expert in campaign-finance regulation to understand the proposed changes. The newer version (Opinion No. 2015-083) was an attempt to better explain the effect of the measure. David Couch of Little Rock submitted the new version. Paul Spencer, chairman of the Regnat Populus Ballot Question Committee submitted the original measure.

March 31, 2015 An Act Amending The Arkansas Civil Rights Act of 1993 - A proposal to amend state law to include sexual orientation and gender identity to groups protected from discrimination under the Arkansas Civil Rights Act of 1993 was certified for signature gathering, according to Opinion No. 2015-029. Jack Michael Weir III of Little Rock submitted the measure.

March 30, 2015 An Act Concerning Local Option (Wet-Dry) Elections - A proposal to reduce the number of signatures required to call a local option (wet-dry) election from 38 percent of qualified electors to 20 percent of qualified electors was certified for signature gathering, according to Opinion No. 2015-026. David Couch of Little Rock submitted the measure. 

Feb. 3, 2015 - The Arkansas Alcoholic Beverage Amendment - A constitutional amendment to legalize the manufacturing and sale of alcohol statewide was certified for signature gathering, according to Opinion No. 2015-12. David Couch of Little Rock submitted the measure.

Nov. 3, 2014 - The Arkansas Hemp and Marijuana Amendment - A constitutional amendment to legalize the cultivation, pro duction, distribution, sale, purchase, possession and use of the cannabis plant in Arkansas was certified for signature gathering, according to  Opinion No. 2014-119 Mary L. Berry of Summit submitted the measure.

Aug. 5, 2014 - The Arkansas Hemp and Cannabis Amendment  - A constitutional amendment to legalize the cultivation, manufacture, distribution, sale, possession and use of the cannabis plant in Arkansas was certified for signature gathering, according to  Opinion No. 2014-079 . Frederick W. Porter of Hot Springs submitted the measure.

Aug. 14, 2014The Arkansas Medical Cannabis Act  - A ballot measure to legalize the use of medical marijuana, and a system for growing and selling medical marijuana was certified for signature gathering. The ballot measure was similar to a recent proposal that did not receive enough signatures for the 2014 ballot. In  Opinion No. 2014-086 , the Attorney General cautioned the group that "according to my experience there is a direct correlation between the length and complexity of initiated acts and their susceptibility to a successful ballot title challenge."  Melissa Fults, campaign director of Arkansans for Compassionate Care 2016, submitted the measure.   

NewsIn the News
Medical marijuana measure gets rejected 


Legislators are able to refer up to three constitutional amendments to the voters every general election. You can find the full text of each proposal and information about their sponsors below.


HJR1027 - Proposing an Amendment to the Arkansas Constitution Concerning The Terms, Election, And Eligibility of Elected Officials 

Read the Legislative bill

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SJR3 - An Amendment to the Arkansas Constitution to Allow the Governor to Retain His or Her Powers and Duties When Absent from the State

Read the Legislative bill

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SJR16 - An Amendment to the Arkansas Constitution to Encourage Job Creation, Job Expansion, and Economic Development

Read the Legislative bill


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