Arkansas attorney general rejects first draft of direct democracy initiative

KUAR | By Hunter Field / Arkansas Advocate

Arkansas’ attorney general has rejected the first version of a proposed constitutional amendment intended to improve the state’s ballot initiative process, but sponsors plan to resubmit.

The text of the measure — which would change parts of the initiative process that have frustrated ballot groups, including ballot title review and signature verification, as well as bar the state Legislature from making changes to initiated amendments or ballot initiative requirements — has a “key ambiguity,” according to Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin.

Griffin in a letter dated Feb. 20 declined to certify the measure’s ballot language, saying the proposed amendment was unclear about how and if future initiatives could be challenged at the Arkansas Supreme Court.
Arkansas attorney general rejects first draft of direct democracy initiative

Eva Bee/Getty Images/Ikon Images

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

Arkansas AG rejects second proposed amendment to make abortion a constitutional right

KUAR | By Tess Vrbin / Arkansas Advocate

From the Arkansas Advocate:

A proposed constitutional amendment proposing a limited right to abortion in Arkansas needs further revisions before it can appear on the 2024 statewide ballot, Attorney General Tim Griffin wrote in a Thursday opinion.

Griffin rejected a previous version of the proposed amendment in November. The initial proposal said state government entities would not be allowed to “prohibit, penalize, delay or restrict” Arkansans’ access to abortion “within 18 weeks of conception.”

Both rejected proposals would have permitted abortion services in cases of rape, incest, a “fatal fetal anomaly” or to protect a pregnant person’s life or health.

Arkansas AG rejects second proposed amendment to make abortion a constitutional right

John Sykes/Arkansas Advocate

Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin.

Constitutional amendment proposals swell from 7 to 33 as deadline passes

by Ronak Patel (rspatel.personal@gmail.com)

The number of proposed constitutional amendments for voter consideration in 2024 has grown from seven to 33 as the deadline for filing measures closed Wednesday (Feb. 8).

Chairmen of the House and Senate committees that handle the process for selection said there isn’t a current timeline for when hearings for these resolutions will take place. The legislature can refer up to three of the 33 proposed constitutional amendments to voters for the general election ballot.

Earlier filings included measures to recall elected officials, change the process for redrawing legislative and Congressional districts, and create a jungle primary process.

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/02/constitutional-amendment-proposals-swell-from-7-to-33-as-deadline-passes/

Arkansas Supreme Court puts marijuana amendment back on the November ballot

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

Recreational marijuana use will be on Arkansas’ November election ballot. The Arkansas Supreme Court on Thursday (Sept. 22) overturned a State Board of Election Commissioners (SBEC) decision to deny certification of the constitutional amendment legalizing marijuana use for adults.

The SBEC on Aug. 3 denied certification of a proposed constitutional amendment – Issue 4 – to legalize recreational marijuana for adults over the age of 21. The panel cited concerns regarding sufficient background checks for dispensary owners and limits on THC, tetrahydrocannabinol, a chemical found in marijuana. The SBEC review is part of a new process for ballot petitions.

In a 5-2 opinion, the Arkansas Supreme Court rejected the panel’s concerns about ballot sufficiency. Justices Shawn Womack and Barbara Webb dissented. (Link here for a PDF of the opinion.)

https://talkbusiness.net/2022/09/arkansas-supreme-court-puts-marijuana-amendment-back-on-the-november-ballot/

Poll: Arkansas Legislature Gets Mixed Reviews from Voters

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

A new Talk Business & Politics-Hendrix College Poll of 916 likely Arkansas voters tested the job approval of the legislature as well as a proposed constitutional amendment that would give lawmakers the power to call themselves into special session, a duty reserved exclusively to the governor. In the survey, conducted Sept. 20-22, 2021, participants were asked:

Q. Do you approve or disapprove of the job the Arkansas legislature is doing?

9% Strongly Approve
37.5% Somewhat Approve (46.5% Approve)
19% Somewhat Disapprove
28% Strongly Disapprove (47% Disapprove)
6.5% Don’t Know

Q. Earlier this year, the state legislature placed several constitutional amendments on the ballot for consideration by Arkansas voters in the November 2022 general election. One proposal would give the legislature the authority to convene a special legislative session by issuing a proclamation of House and Senate leadership or by 2/3rds of the members of both the House and Senate. If the election were held today, would you plan to vote for or against this constitutional amendment?

8% Definitely For
32% Probably For (40% For)
24% Probably Against
14% Definitely Against (38% Against)
22% Don’t Know

https://talkbusiness.net/2021/09/poll-arkansas-legislature-gets-mixed-reviews-from-voters/