Legislative committee approves rules on electronic signatures, gender-neutral IDs

KUAR | By Josie Lenora

Members of the Arkansas Legislative Council approved two controversial rule changes in a meeting Friday: the first had to do with elections, while the second had to do with gender-neutral driver's licenses.

Driver's licenses

The Department of Finance and Administration recently implemented a rule requiring the letter “M” or “F” to be listed under “sex” on all driver’s licenses or state-issued IDs. Right now, a few hundred Arkansans have “X” listed instead of "M" or "F".

Democratic lawmakers protested the rule change, saying it was harmful to transgender and nonbinary Arkansans. Rep. Andrew Collins, D- Little Rock, said the rule change goes beyond the purview of what the Department of Finance and Administration is allowed to do.

Legislative committee approves rules on electronic signatures, gender-neutral IDs

Dwain Hebda/Arkansas Advocate

The Arkansas Legislature approved two controversial rules at a legislative meeting Friday.

Contested races set for all Congressional districts; four vie for Supreme Court Chief Justice

by Talk Business & Politics staff (staff2@talkbusiness.net)

Arkansas’ four U.S. House of Representatives members will face either a primary or general election opponent in the 2024 election, although the four are considered safe for re-election. The election cycle will also see four people vie for Arkansas Supreme Court Chief Justice.

The candidate filing deadline for the 2024 election cycle ended at Noon Tuesday (Nov. 14) with the Arkansas Secretary of State website indicating that 351 Arkansans filed to seek an elected federal, state or judicial position. The 2024 statewide primary election is set for March 5, and the general election will be held Nov. 5. (Link here to see the candidate filings.)

In Arkansas’ 1st Congressional District, U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford, R-Jonesboro will not have a primary opponent but will face Democrat Rodney Govens, a 40-year year old Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran from Cabot, in the November general election.

Contested races set for all Congressional districts; four vie for Supreme Court Chief Justice

Democratic Party Chair Michael John Gray Leaving Post

by Roby Brock (roby@talkbusiness.net)

Michael John Gray, the former state representative who has served as Democratic Party of Arkansas chairman since 2017, is leaving his position, he announced Monday (Aug. 9).

Gray intends to resign as party chairman effective Sept. 1, 2021. He made the announcement to party leaders during an Executive Committee meeting on Monday night, followed by an informal meeting of the State Committee.

“Our state has been through immense changes since I began serving in public life and the challenges seem to be more important than ever. As Chairman, I’ve met people all across this state, with diverse backgrounds and upbringings, and found that when you turn down the noise from the cable television rhetoric most of us want the same thing. We want a good life for our families and we don’t want to be ignored by the people who claim to be our leaders. I got involved to give voice to my neighbors, the forgotten communities across the Delta, and to build a path for those who haven’t always been engaged. I will continue to do that every day of my life. I am a better person for it and am extremely grateful to the friends that I have made across this state, and I am humbled by the support they’ve given me.

https://talkbusiness.net/2021/08/democratic-party-chair-michael-john-gray-leaving-post/

Democratic Party of Arkansas Again Lowers Filing Fees

By ANTOINETTE GRAJEDA

Arkansas Democrats are reducing filing fees for candidates for the third time since 2017. A spokesman for the Republican Party of Arkansas says the organization has no plans to follow suit. Arkansas has some of the most expensive filing fees in the country.

https://www.kuaf.com/post/democratic-party-arkansas-again-lowers-filing-fees