Abortion amendment volunteer signature count falls short of threshold

KUAR | By Josie Lenora

An Arkansas abortion advocacy group does not have enough signatures to put an amendment legalizing the procedure on the November ballot.

On Thursday, Leslie Bellamy on behalf of the secretary of state's office signed an affidavit saying the group only collected 87,675 signatures. This is less than the over 90,000 signatures needed to put the amendment on the ballot. 912 other signatures were thrown out on a technicality.

The signatures were gathered by Arkansas For Limited Government, a group aiming to pass an amendment in Arkansas to legalize abortion up to the 18th week of pregnancy.

Abortion amendment volunteer signature count falls short of threshold

New reporting shows pro-choice group may have submitted the correct paperwork

KUAR | By Josie Lenora

The Arkansas Times uncovered evidence that documents may have been correctly submitted to the Secretary of State's office contrary to statements made by the office. Arkansans For Limited Government has been working since February to put an amendment on the ballot legalizing abortion in Arkansas up to the 18th week of pregnancy. The collected over 101 thousand signatures collected by a pro-choice group were thrown out. Arkansas For Limited Government attempted They submitted their boxes of signatures to the Secretary of State's office on July 5th.

Secretary of State John Thurston, threw out their signatures because he said the group “failed to comply” with Arkansas law. In a letter sent to one of the sponsors, Secretary Thurston said they violated A.C.A. 7-9-111 (f)(2). This law mandates two pieces of paperwork be turned in with signatures: a list of paid canvassers, and a signed statement by the sponsor proving the paid canvassers read the handbook.

New reporting shows pro-choice group may have submitted the correct paperwork

Josie Lenora/Little Rock Public Radio

Supporters of an effort to legalize abortion in Arkansas cheer as signatures are submitted at the Arkansas State Capitol on Friday, July 5, 2024.

Supporters of abortion amendment counter Secretary of State on ballot measure rejection

by Roby Brock (roby@talkbusiness.net)

Supporters of a proposed amendment to provide exemptions to abortions in Arkansas sent a letter to Secretary of State John Thurston, claiming he was erroneous in declining their proposal.

On Wednesday (July 10), Thurston notified supporters of the proposed amendment that their petitions were being rejected due to a lack of proper identification by some canvassers of the proposal.

Arkansans for Limited Government (AFLG), the group backing the Arkansas Abortion Amendment, submitted 101,525 signatures last Friday. Groups seeking to pass a constitutional amendment must collect 90,704 valid voter signatures, which is equal to 10% of the number of votes cast in the most recent governor’s election, with sufficient numbers in 50 counties.

Supporters of abortion amendment counter Secretary of State on ballot measure rejection

Publication of abortion amendment canvasser list is intimidation, ballot question committee says

KUAR | By Tess Vrbin / Arkansas Advocate

From the Arkansas Advocate:

Supporters of a proposed Arkansas constitutional amendment that would allow a limited right to abortion denounced a conservative advocacy group’s publication of a list of paid canvassers, calling the move an intimidation tactic.

The right-wing Family Council posted Thursday on its website a list of 79 people that the Arkansans for Limited Government ballot question committee is paying to collect signatures from across the state. The committee needs 90,704 signatures from registered voters by July 5 for the proposed amendment to appear on the November ballot.

The Family Council obtained the list of paid canvassers and their home cities via an Arkansas Freedom of Information Act request, according to the post. Ballot question committees do not have to submit lists of unpaid or volunteer canvassers to the state.

Publication of abortion amendment canvasser list is intimidation, ballot question committee says

Tess Vrbin/Arkansas Advocate

Supporters of a proposed Arkansas constitutional amendment that would create a limited right to abortion seek signatures at the intersection of 9th and State streets in Little Rock on Thursday, May 30, 2024. Little Rock police arrived during the collection efforts and parked outside the event venue The Hall.

AG Griffin approves abortion amendment ballot title with changes

Attorney General Tim Griffin approved Tuesday (Jan. 23) a proposed constitutional amendment to provide exceptions for abortions in Arkansas, but he made two changes to the proposal.

The proposed constitutional amendment – known as the Arkansas Abortion Amendment – would prevent the state from restricting access to abortion up to 18 weeks after conception or in the instance of rape or incest, fatal fetal anomaly, or when abortion is needed to protect the pregnant woman’s life or health.

“Having reviewed the text of your proposed constitutional amendment, as well as your proposed popular name and ballot title, my statutory duty at this stage is to substitute and certify the popular name and ballot title indicated below. With regard to your proposed ballot title, I believe the following minor changes are necessary to ensure that the ballot title clearly and accurately sets forth the purpose of your proposed initiated amendment to the Arkansas Constitution,” Griffin said.

You can read Griffin’s opinion letter here.

AG Griffin approves abortion amendment ballot title with changes