June 2022
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Three Ballot Issue Groups Publish Ads By Deadline
The potential number of citizen-led ballot measures in the November general election now stands at three.

A ballot issue group seeking to legalize recreational marijuana and another that wants to remove Pope County as a location allowed for casino gaming published ads in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette by the June 8 deadline. Sponsors of a medical freedom measure said they published an ad in the newspaper earlier this year.

Arkansas law requires ballot issue groups to publish an advertisement showing the wording of their measure by this month. This newspaper advertisement deadline typically results in ballot issue groups dropping out. Generally, groups drop out because they don't think they will be able to collect enough signatures to qualify.

Published Ballot Measures




What's Next?

Sponsors of citizen-led initiatives must collect at least 89,151 voter signatures from at least 15 counties to qualify for the November ballot. This number represents 10% of the number of people who voted for governor in 2018.

July 8 is the deadline for sponsors to turn in their petitions to the Secretary of State's Office, which will then review the signatures to ensure they are from registered voters. Additionally, the Board of Election Commissioners are required to approve citizen-sponsored ballot titles and their popular names.

The Secretary of State's Office has until Aug. 25 to send the official November ballot to county election commissions. The 2022 ballot will include three proposed constitutional amendments from the Arkansas legislature. Find links to those proposals in the next section.

We will publish a voter guide online in early September on the final ballot measures. A printed voter guide will be available at county Extension offices by early October.

Photo caption: Canvassers for Fair Play Arkansas talk about their efforts to collect voter signatures last week outside the State Revenue Office in Bryant.

Photo by Kristin Higgins.
2022 Ballot Measures from the Legislature
Arkansas representatives and senators voted to put three proposed constitutional amendments on the Nov. 8, 2022 General Election ballot.
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 reform certain measures presented to voters, to be known as the "Constitutional Amendment and Ballot Initiative Reform Amendment”
A constitutional amendment to create the "Arkansas Religious Freedom Amendment"
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 9, Issue 6. 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."

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