Public Policy Center | uaex.uada.edu/ballot
January 2024
Election Year Kicks Off with Signature Petitions and Lawsuits Over Ballot Issue Approvals
After a flurry of rejected ballot titles and filed lawsuits, several ballot issue groups in Arkansas have reached the point where they can start collecting voter signatures to qualify their citizen initiatives for the November 2024 ballot.

Attorney General Tim Griffin issued 21 opinions since last month rejecting proposed popular names and ballot titles. Ballot issue groups turned around within days and submitted new proposals, with one group submitting 13 different popular names in January for their two Freedom of Information Act proposals.

January is now over. Ballot issue groups are collecting voter signatures for:






Sponsors of the Arkansas Abortion Amendment held a rally in Fayetteville on Saturday where they started collecting signatures. The group supporting ending sales tax on diapers and period products have been collecting signatures as well over the past month.

To qualify for a spot on the November ballot, ballot issue groups seeking constitutional amendments must collect at least 90,704 signatures from Arkansas registered voters. Sponsors of an Act, or a state law, must collect at least 72,563 voter signatures. A certain percentage of those signatures must come from at least 50 of the state's 75 counties.

By signing a petition, a voter is expressing support for the issue to be on the ballot for voters to decide. The deadline to submit petitions is July 5, 2024.

Compared to Past Years
Looking back at when the Secretary of State's Office was in charge of receiving ballot titles, the state had received 12 ballot proposals as of January 2022 and 10 submissions in January 2020. The law then allowed sponsors to circulate petitions without any ballot title approval.

Going further back to when the Attorney General's Office was in charge of certifying ballot titles - like it is again now - only one measure had seen its title certified by the end of January 2018. At this time in January 2016, the AG's Office had certified 10 proposals for circulation. A decade ago, in January 2014, the AG's Office had certified seven proposals.

Driving Under the Radar
One ballot title that keeps coming back is a proposal to allow car and truck owners to qualify for an antique vehicle license plate if their ride is at least 25 years old.

David Dinwiddie of Pine Bluff has twice submitted a popular name and ballot title for the 2024 ballot to change state law back to where it had been until 2019. Act 368 of 2019 increased the age of qualifying vehicles to 45 years old.

Dinwiddie is no stranger to the citizen initiative process. Over the past decade, he's filed proposals involving length of terms for county officials, college meal plans and voter approval of taxes.

The Attorney General's Office rejected his most recent ballot proposal because of inconsistent references to the definition of automobile.
Ballot Issue Lawsuits
At least three lawsuits are underway involving 2024 ballot issues.

A lawsuit over the new requirement to collect voter signatures in 50 counties - up from 15 counties - continues in Pulaski County Circuit Court.

The state has asked for the case to be dismissed while the plaintiffs, Sen. Bryan King and the League of Women Voters, have asked Judge Herbert Wright to find the new law unconstitutional.


Supporters of using paper ballots in Arkansas elections filed a lawsuit earlier this month at the Arkansas Supreme Court also seeking to find the new county signature requirement unconstitutional. Conrad Reynolds and the Arkansas Voter Integrity Initiative also want the Supreme Court to void a law that returned the ballot title review process back to the Attorney General's Office.


Sponsors of two ballot issues related to the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act sued Attorney General Tim Griffin this month. Arkansans for Transparency asked the Supreme Court to compel Griffin to approve their popular names and ballot titles, saying the delay was cutting short their time to collect voter signatures. Ballot issue groups must publish their titles in a newspaper in June and turn in voter signatures in July.

On Jan. 30, the Attorney General's Office asked the court to dismiss the lawsuit now that the office had certified the names of the two proposals, allowing sponsors to go forward with signature collecting. The same day the group's attorneys filed paperwork agreeing to dismiss the lawsuit.
On the 2024 Ballot - From the Legislature
For the first time since 1986, Arkansas legislators referred only one constitutional amendment to voters.

Issue 1 - A constitutional amendment to provide that lottery proceeds may be used to fund or provide scholarships and grants to Arkansas citizens enrolled in vocational-technical schools and technical institutes. The current law only includes two-year and four-year colleges and universities.
Citizens Proposals for 2024 Ballot
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 (1) filing a ballot title with the Attorney General's Office, (2) collecting voter signatures across the state, and (3) submitting signatures 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 title and text of potential ballot issues from the public. Ballot issue groups can collect voter signatures only after the Attorney General verifies the ballot title and popular name honestly, intelligibly and fairly describe the purpose of a proposed constitutional amendment or act. The AG's Office releases opinions either approving or rejecting ballot titles.

Access Our Full List: Tracking 2024 Arkansas Ballot Issues

Recently Rejected Citizen Initiative Ballot Titles

  • Jan. 8, 2024 - Four constitutional amendments seeking to put any future legislative changes for public records, public meetings and public notices on the ballot for voters to decide were rejected. Opinion No. 2023-123 covered the reasons why the AG's Office rejected The Arkansas Government Transparency Amendment, The Open Meetings and Open Records in the State and Local Government Amendment, The Arkansas Government Disclosure Amendment, and The Arkansas Government Openness Amendment. David Couch of Little Rock and Jen Standerfer of Bentonville submitted the proposed amendments.

  • Jan. 9, 2024 - Four proposed state laws seeking to clarify and enhance parts of the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act, including creating a commission that would act as a mediator in conflicts, were rejected. Opinion No. 2023-127 covered the reasons why the AG's Office rejected The Arkansas Government Transparency Act, The Arkansas Open Meetings and Open Records in State and Local Government Act, The Arkansas Government Disclosure Act, and The Arkansas Government Openness Act. David Couch of Little Rock and Jen Standerfer of Bentonville submitted the proposed laws.

  • Jan. 9, 2024 - Educational Rights Amendment of 2024 - A proposed constitutional amendment to require every school receiving public funds to meet the same academic standards was rejected, in part because the standards might prevent religious schools from offering religious education that isn't allowed in public schools, according to Opinion No. 2023-131. Barry Jefferson of Little Rock submitted the proposed amendment.

  • Jan. 12, 2024 - An amendment to the Arkansas Constitution to enhance the security of public elections, require the use of secure hand marked paper ballots, permit disabled voters to continue using voting machines, regulate the counting and verification of votes cast during an election, preserve the current method of selecting candidates, and ensure that elections cannot be conducted in this State using an internet, Bluetooth, or wireless connections - A proposal to require elections in Arkansas to take place via paper ballot and to prohibit instant voting runoffs in the state, among other things, was rejected in part over how the term disability was defined, according to Opinion No. 2023-133. Clinton Lancaster of Little Rock submitted the proposed amendment.

  • Jan. 25, 2024 - The Arkansas Government Transparency Act - A proposal regarding public records, notices and meetings, along with the creation of a new commission, was rejected because part of the language was misleading, according to Opinion No. 2024-009. David Couch of Little Rock and Jen Standerfer of Bentonville submitted the proposed law.

  • Jan. 25, 2024 - The Arkansas Open Meetings and Open Records In State and Local Government Act - A proposal regarding public records, notices and meetings, along with the creation of a new commission, was rejected because part of the language was misleading, according to Opinion No. 2024-010. David Couch of Little Rock and Jen Standerfer of Bentonville submitted the proposed law.

  • Jan. 25, 2024 - The Arkansas Government Disclosure Act - A proposal regarding public records, notices and meetings, along with the creation of a new commission, was rejected because part of the language was misleading, according to Opinion No. 2024-011. David Couch of Little Rock and Jen Standerfer of Bentonville submitted the proposed law.

  • Jan. 25, 2024 - The Arkansas Government Openness Act - A proposal regarding public records, notices and meetings, along with the creation of a new commission, was rejected because part of the language was misleading, according to Opinion No. 2024-012. David Couch of Little Rock and Jen Standerfer of Bentonville submitted the proposed law.

  • Jan. 25, 2024 - The Arkansas Government Transparency Act - A proposal regarding public records, notices and meetings, along with the creation of a new commission, was rejected because part of the language was misleading, according to Opinion No. 2024-013. David Couch of Little Rock and Jen Standerfer of Bentonville submitted the proposed law.

  • Jan. 29, 2024 - Arkansas Medical Cannabis Amendment of 2024 - A proposal to expand the state's medical marijuana law was rejected because of undefined terms and ambiguities that don't tell voters what would change, according to Opinion No. 2024-014. Stephen R. Lancaster of Little Rock submitted the proposed amendment.


Approved Citizen Initiative Ballot Titles

  • Oct. 10, 2023 - 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 for signature gathering, according to Opinion No. 2023-092. David Couch of Little Rock submitted the proposed law.

  • Jan. 12, 2024 - Absentee Voting Amendment of 2024 - A proposal that would in part allow only the voter to handle their absentee ballot, and would also prohibit online voting, was approved for signature gathering, according to Opinion No. 2023-132. Clinton Lancaster of Little Rock submitted the proposed amendment.

  • Jan. 23, 2024 - Arkansas Abortion Amendment of 2024 - A proposal that would allow abortion was approved for signature gathering, according to Opinion No. 2024-004. Steven Nichols of Little Rock submitted the proposed amendment

  • Jan. 24, 2024 - The Arkansas Government Openness Amendment - A proposed constitutional amendment related to public meetings, notices and records was approved for signature gathering, according to Opinion No. 2024-008. David Couch of Little Rock and Jen Standerfer of Bentonville submitted the proposed amendment. Note: Sponsors have indicated they will not be circulating this proposal for signatures.

  • Jan. 24, 2024 - The Arkansas Government Disclosure Amendment - A proposed constitutional amendment related to public meetings, notices and records was approved for signature gathering, according to Opinion No. 2024-007. David Couch of Little Rock and Jen Standerfer of Bentonville submitted the proposed amendment. Note: Sponsors have indicated they will not be circulating this proposal for signatures.

  • Jan. 24, 2024 - The Open Meetings and Open Records in State and Local Government Amendment - A proposed constitutional amendment related to public meetings, notices and records was approved for signature gathering, according to Opinion No. 2024-006. David Couch of Little Rock and Jen Standerfer of Bentonville submitted the proposed amendment. Note: Sponsors have indicated they will not be circulating this proposal for signatures.

  • Jan. 24, 2024 - The Arkansas Government Disclosure Amendment of 2024 - A proposed constitutional amendment related to public meetings, notices and records was approved for signature gathering, according to Opinion No. 2024-005. David Couch of Little Rock and Jen Standerfer of Bentonville submitted the proposed amendment.

  • Jan. 29, 2024 - The Arkansas Government Disclosure Act of 2024 - A proposal regarding public records, notices and meetings, along with the creation of a new commission, according to Opinion No. 2024-20. David Couch of Little Rock and Jen Standerfer of Bentonville submitted the proposed law.
PPC in the Media
Below is a selection of recent Public Policy Center media coverage.

Little Rock Public Radio
Go inside the ballot initiative process in Arkansas. Maggie Ryan interviewed Kristin Higgins about Arkansas' ballot issue process.
Voter Education Resources
#ARballot

State Ballot Issues
Access Our Information

Voter Resources

Local Ballot Issues
Access Local Election

Blog & Archive

Research Past Ballot Issues in our Archive

Ballot Issue Tracker
Links to AG Opinions for 2024 ballot



Did someone share this email with you? 
Subscribe to get Arkansas Ballot Issues News & Notes in your inbox every month.

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.

We are part of the Community, Professional and Economic Development unit at the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service in Little Rock.

News & Notes Volume 11, Issue 1. 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."

The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.