Public Policy Center | uaex.uada.edu/ballot

March 2026

What is a Ballot Issue Committee?

Arkansas legislators have asked voters to consider three constitutional amendments in November. So far, only one of those proposals is supported by an organized committee. Meanwhile, sponsors circulating petitions asking voters to place constitutional amendments on the ballot also filed organizational paperwork with the Arkansas Ethics Commission.

Arkansas law establishes two types of ballot issue committees.

Legislative question committees (LQC)
Ballot question committees (BQC)

Filing paperwork for either type of committee is triggered when supporters or opponents of a ballot measure spend or raise at least $500. The paperwork is filed with the Arkansas Ethics Commission, and this rule also applies to local elections at the city and county level. Monthly financial reports must be filed with the commission to show what money has been raised or spent, or what in-kind donations have been made.

Arkansans for Strong Communities filed a statement of organization for a legislative ballot question committee in July to support what they've identified as Issue 3, a legislatively-referred constitutional amendment that would allow for creating economic development districts in the state. A website supporting the ballot issue should be live soon. The LQC reported a balance of $130,226 as of the end of February and cumulative spending of $87,773 since July.

A ballot issue committee filing is also required if two percent of annual revenues, operating expenses or funds are used to make a contribution to another ballot question committee and if the contribution exceeds $10,000 in value.

For example, the Arkansas Public Policy Panel, a statewide organization focused on social and economic justice through organizing citizen groups, reported in January that it contributed $10,000 to For AR Kids in support of an education amendment and $50,000 to Protect AR Rights in support of an Arkansas ballot measure rights amendment.

Committees that have filed to support 2026 amendments.

LQC Committee

Arkansans for Strong Communities

BQC Committees

For AR Kids

Keep Arkansas Natural

League of Women Voters of Arkansas

Protect AR Rights

Save AR Democracy

For AR People*

Arkansas Public Policy Panel*

*filing as a result of contributing to ballot question committees

There is no record of any group filing to oppose any of the legislative measures or petitions currently being circulated by the public. Find organizational statements and financial paperwork for each group by searching for their name under the "statewide" heading at www.arkansasethics.com/filings/.

March 31st Runoff Election Reminder

Have you checked Arkansas Voter View yet to see if your community has a runoff election to decide on March 31?

The Republican Party candidate for Secretary of State will be on the runoff election ballot after the three-way race ended March 3 without anyone securing more than 50% of the vote. Sen. Kim Hammer and Bryan Norris are the two candidates who will appear on the March 31 runoff ballot. The winner will be on the November ballot for the Secretary of State seat with Democrat Kelly Grappe and Libertarian Michael Pakko.

Voters in Senate District 15 in southwest Little Rock and Pulaski County also have a Senate seat to decide March 31. Rep. Tara Shephard and Charity Smith-Allen are the remaining candidates for the seat after another three-way election resulted without a majority winner. There is no Republican opponent on the November ballot.

Several Arkansas counties have local runoff elections for county judge or county sheriff, among others. Check Arkansas Voter View to see whether a sample ballot appears for your community and to find voting center locations. Early voting starts March 24.

Status Update - Arkansas Ballot Issue Lawsuits

Name: League of Women Voters of Arkansas, Save AR Democracy, Bonnie Heather Miller and Danielle Quesnell vs. Secretary of State Cole Jester (5:25-cv-05087)

Intervening Plaintiffs: Protect AR Rights and For AR Kids

Date Filed: April 21, 2025

Court: Judge Timothy L. Brooks, U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas in Fayetteville

Complaint: The lawsuit challenges Act 218, Act 240, Act 241 and Act 274 of 2025. The complaint also lists specific state laws, including § 7-9-601, § 7-9-103(a)(6), § 7-9-126(4), and § 7-9-113(a)(2)(A). Intervenors are also challenging: Act 602 of 2025, § 7-9-126(e), and § 7-9-601(a)(2)(C).

Status: Judge Brooks filed paperwork that says he will hold a bench trial during his scheduled two weeks for trials starting July 20. This means Brooks will meet with attorneys to hear their full legal arguments at some point over those two weeks. He said he will set a specific court date closer to July.

Note: The federal court system uses an online record system that is behind a paywall. Some lawsuit documents that have already been "purchased" are publicly available at https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69919853/league-of-women-voters-of-arkansas-v-jester/.

Appeal of Brooks' pause on new Arkansas canvassing laws shown above (No. 25-3389)

Name: League of Women Voters of Arkansas, et al v. Cole Jester

Date Filed: Dec. 1, 2025

Court: U.S. Court of Appeals 8th Circuit

Complaint: The appeal challenges Brooks' order to pause enforcement of several new Arkansas canvasser laws ahead of a July trial. See court case above for list of laws.

Status: State attorneys filed a brief on Jan. 30 arguing Brooks was wrong in his decision to issue a stay. Attorneys for the League of Women Voters and others who are challenging the laws filed their brief March 18.

Note: The federal court system uses an online record system that is behind a paywall.

Name: Bryan King and The League of Women Voters of Arkansas vs. Secretary of State John Thurston (presumably now Cole Jester) (60CV-23-1816)

Date Filed: March 10, 2023

Court: Circuit Court Judge Shawn Johnson, Pulaski County Circuit Court

Complaint: The lawsuit challenges Act 236 of 2023, which increased the number of counties that citizens needed to collect voter signatures from to qualify constitutional amendments and state laws for the statewide ballot—from 15 counties to 50 counties.

Status: On Feb. 24, an attorney for the state filed a notice that the state would appeal the judge's recent decision that Act 236 was unconstitutional with the Arkansas Supreme Court, as well as the judge's decision not to dismiss the lawsuit. On March 15, attorney David Couch filed a notice that the 2024 decision to dismiss Sen. King from the lawsuit would be appealed. A previous judge on the case, Herbert Wright, Jr., dismissed King from participating. Johnson inherited the lawsuit when Wright was elected to another position.

On the 2026 Ballot - From the Legislature

Arkansas voters will see three proposed constitutional amendments from the legislature on their November statewide ballot along with one bond issue question. The Arkansas Secretary of State will assign ballot issue numbers to the three amendments later this year.

HJR1018 - The Citizens Only Voting Amendment

SJR11 - A Constitutional Amendment to amend Arkansas Constitution, Article 2, § 5, to protect the right to keep and bear arms.

SJR15 - A Constitutional Amendment concerning economic development in the state of Arkansas; and authorizing the General Assembly to provide for the creation of economic development districts to promote economic development.

Question 1 - Arkansas Water, Waste Disposal, and Pollution Abatement Facilities Financing Act of 2025

Download our handout

Citizen Proposals for the 2026 Ballot

A man sitting in a truck signs a petition while the canvasser stands next to the truck window.

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. It is the only state in the south with this robust form of direct democracy.

The citizen initiative process involves filing a ballot title with the Attorney General's Office, collecting voter signatures across the state and submitting the petitions 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 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, and that the wording of ballot titles scores at an eighth grade reading level on the Flesch-Kincaid test.

Find the full list: Tracking Arkansas 2026 Ballot Issues

Ballot Proposals Rejected

March 16, 2026 - Change the terms of office for justices of the peace, and constables from two years to four years

A proposed constitutional amendment establishing four-year terms in office for justices of the peace and constables was rejected because the ballot title (1) included a starting date that wasn't in the text of the measure, (2) the 37-word-long ballot title scored at grade 18.6, which is higher than the eighth-grade reading level required by Act 602 of 2025, and (3) the measure referred to townships rather than quorum court districts, according to Opinion No. 2026-022. David E. Dinwiddie of Pine Bluff submitted the proposed amendment.

Ballot Proposals Approved for Signature Gathering

July 28, 2025 - The Arkansas Ballot Measure Rights Amendment

A proposed constitutional amendment regarding changes to the citizen initiative process was approved for signature gathering, according to Opinion No 2025-056. Jennifer Waymack Standerfer with Protect AR Rights submitted the proposed amendment.

May 21, 2025 - An Amendment Concerning Constitutional Amendments, Initiated Acts, and Referendums

A proposed constitutional amendment regarding changes to the citizen initiative process was approved for signature gathering, according to Opinion No. 2025-033. David Couch of Little Rock submitted the proposed amendment.

Feb. 26, 2025 - The Arkansas Educational Rights Amendment of 2026

A proposal to require identical academic and accreditation standards for schools receiving state or local funds was approved for signature gathering, according to Opinion No. 2025-016. April Reisma and Kwami Abdul-Bey of Little Rock submitted the proposed amendment. Note: This proposal is identical to the ballot title approved Sept. 19, 2024.

July 18, 2024 - The Arkansas Government Disclosure Amendment of 2026

A proposal establishing government's obligation to share and deliver information to citizens as a right was approved for signature gathering, according to Opinion No. 2024-070. Robert Steinbuch submitted the proposed amendment.

July 18, 2024 - 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, according to O pinion No. 2024-068. David Couch of Little Rock submitted the proposed law.

New Fact Sheet on Grant Writing

Our colleague Dr. Hunter Goodman published a fact sheet this month about grant writing.

Titled "Capacity Building through Grant Writing in Arkansas Communities," this fact sheet focuses on developing clear goals, identifying local assets and partnerships, preparing budgets, writing narratives and more.

Download the Fact Sheet

Read more about the nonprofit support Goodman offers through the Center for Rural Resilience and Workforce Development using an asset-based community development lens.

New On Our Blog

The Public Policy Center is part of the Community, Professional and Economic Development unit at the Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service in Little Rock. As the blog's editor, we wanted to share recent publications.