Public Policy Center | uaex.uada.edu/ballot

May 2026

July Voter Signature Deadline Approaching Fast

Although Attorney General Tim Griffin certified ballot titles for seven citizen-initiated constitutional amendments ahead of the 2026 election, only three sponsors are actively collecting voter signatures ahead of the July 3 petition deadline.

Friday, July 3 is the day state government plans to recognize the Fourth of July holiday this year and most offices will be closed, but Secretary of State staff will be open to accept petitions. Ballot issue groups are crossing the state the next few weeks attempting to collect more than the required 90,704 voter signatures.

A Pulaski County Circuit Court judge ruled earlier this year that a 2023 state law requiring campaigns to collect voter signatures from 50 counties rather than the 15 as stated in the Arkansas Constitution was unconstitutional. An appeal is pending with the Arkansas Supreme Court. Because of the pending appeal, the groups are actively collecting signatures from 50 counties as a precaution.

On Election Day, voters see the popular name and ballot title of each proposal on their ballot. The Public Policy Center has published blog posts about the three proposals, including links to the full text of each measure:

The first proposed amendment would require identical academic and accreditation standards for schools receiving state or local funds. The other two proposals seek to establish procedures for the state's citizen initiative process and would prevent legislators from changing successful citizen initiatives without another vote of the people

Sponsors of one of the citizen initiative process measures told the Arkansas Advocate earlier this month that their volunteer canvassers had collected less than half of the required signatures but they were optimistic as the deadline approaches.

See the full list of citizen initiatives submitted to the Attorney General's Office for the November 2026 ballot.

Arkansas is one of 15 states where citizens have the right to put constitutional amendments, state laws and referendums on the statewide ballot for voters to decide. It is the only state in the south where citizens these three options.

Arkansas Legislature's Referred 2026 Amendments

Arkansas legislators referred three proposed constitutional amendments to voters to decide on the November ballot.

The Arkansas Secretary of State's office will assign official ballot issue numbers for each amendment by August 20, the deadline to send the statewide ballot to county election officials.

The proposed constitutional amendments are:

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.

In addition to constitutional amendments, legislators are also asking voters to approve selling up to $500 million in bonds. This proposal will appear on the ballot as a legislative question.

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

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Does Your Community Have a Special Election?

Early voting is underway for a special June 2 primary election to select the next person to represent House District 44, which includes parts of Pope and Van Buren counties.

Four people are running to be the unopposed Republican candidate on the November ballot. Rep. Stan Berry of Dover died in March, prompting the special election.

In Hempstead County, residents will be voting June 9 on a proposed .075% countywide sales tax with the revenue earmarked for the Southwest Arkansas Regional Medical Center in Hope.

A 2023 Arkansas law requires cities and counties to hold special elections with spring or fall statewide elections unless there's an emergency. According to Southwest Arkansas Today, the Hempstead Quorum Court included emergency language in their ordinance calling for the election "so the hospital can obtain funds sooner for needs that involve roof repair, equipment upgrades and HVAC work." According to HopePrescott.com, the sales tax would expire in 10 years.

Let us know if your community has a special election this summer or on the November ballot. Send us an email at pubilcpolicycenter@uada.edu.

Plan Ahead - Important 2026 Election Dates

July 3 - Deadline for citizen initiative groups to submit voter signature petitions to Secretary of State's Office
July 29 - Filing starts for candidates for city offices

August 20 - Deadline for Secretary of State to send out the official statewide ballot to county election officials, including the assignment of ballot issue numbers

September 18 - Absentee ballots are available for people who submitted applications.

October 5 - Deadline to register to vote ahead of November General Election
October 19 - Early voting starts in Arkansas
October 27 - Last day for Arkansans to request absentee ballots be mailed to them

October 30 - Last day to return absentee ballot in person
November 3 - Election Day and last day for absentee ballot to be delivered by mail from local voters

November 13 - Last day for absentee ballot to arrive in mail from overseas or military voters

Status Update - Arkansas Ballot Issue Lawsuits

Appeals Court Denies Arkansas Request to Rehear Electronic Voter Signatures

Last month we highlighted a federal lawsuit over whether Arkansans must sign their name on a voter registration application with an ink pen versus an electronic signature. Now for an update.

On May 22, the full 11-member 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected an April request from the Arkansas State Board of Election Commissioners to hear the case. Election officials wanted the full court to revisit a three-member appeal panel's decision that a new voter registration rule requiring handwritten signatures violated the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

A section of the federal law says "no person acting under the color of law" can deny a person to vote because of "an error or omission on any record or paper relating to any application, registration, or other act requisite to voting, if such error or omission is not material in determining whether such individual is qualified under state law to vote."

Get Loud Arkansas, a nonprofit that developed an online voter registration form, and several Arkansans who had registered to vote with an electronic signature filed a lawsuit on June 5, 2024. State election officials passed a rule requiring "wet" signatures after Get Loud Arkansas helped register several hundred Arkansans using their online form. Amendment 51 to the state's 1874 constitution regulates voter registration and calls for applicants to complete the form with a "signature or mark" to confirm they are legally able to register to vote in Arkansas.

While attorneys for Get Loud Arkansas shared how county officials didn't use application signatures to determine a person's identity or their eligibility to vote, attorneys for the state said hand-written signatures reduced voter registration fraud and helped prove people's identities.

Arkansas is one of eight states that does not allow people to register to vote online. According to the Secretary of State's Office, 1.7 million Arkansans are registered to vote.

The appeal is known as CASE NO. 24-2810. The original lawsuit is No. 5:24-cv-05121.

State officials could appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Note:The federal government uses an online court record system called PACER, which requires users to create an account and provide a credit card number. There is a charge for court record searches and to view results. Because of this, we may link to other organizations that provide copies of the documents involved.

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: On May 22, 2026, the judge issued an order allowing discussion about whether two additional people can join the lawsuit because of First Amendment violations. State law prevents the two Arkansans from being paid to collect voter signatures for statewide ballot measure because they have past criminal convictions. Attorneys can file briefs about the two people's participation through June. Brooks did not dismiss the lawsuit as requested by the state. Previously, the judge had said he would hold a bench trial during his scheduled two weeks for trials starting July 20. He has issued a temporary stay of the challenged laws ahead of the trial.

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 decision to pause 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 April 20 arguing Brooks was wrong in his decision to issue a stay and asked the federal appeals court to reverse Brooks' decision.

Appeal of Pulaski County Circuit Court decision that Act 236 is unconstitutional

Name: Cole Jester v League of Women Voters of Arkansas (CV-26-294)

Date Filed: April 30, 2026

Court: Arkansas Supreme Court

Complaint: The state appealed Pulaski County Circuit Court Judge Shawn Johnson's decision that Act 236 of 2023 was unconstitutional (60CV-23-1816). The law increased the number of counties where citizens needed to collect voter signatures from to qualify constitutional amendments and state laws for the statewide ballot—from 15 counties to 50 counties. A decision to dismiss Sen. Bryan King from the lawsuit is also being appealed.

Status: The state's brief to the court is due June 9. The League of Women Voters of Arkansas' reply is due 30 days after the state's filing. Justice Nicholas Bronni submitted a letter May 1 recusing himself from participating in the lawsuit. Chief Justice Karen Baker on May 7 sent a letter to Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders asking her to appoint a special judge to replace Bronni.

Online Course: County Government 101

Want to learn more about the roles and responsibilities of elected county officials? Sign up for Introduction to County Government in Arkansas, a free online course offered by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

This self-guided course includes four sections:

An overview of county government
Mandated and non-mandated services
Roles and responsibilities of elected county officials
How counties are funded

Create a free account at https://learn.uada.edu.

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.