Issue 2 passes, Pope County casino dead; Issue 1 receives voter approval

by Michael Tilley (mtilley@talkbusiness.net)

Tens of millions of dollars spent for and against an effort to block construction of a casino in Pope County with a constitutional amendment resulted in the passage of Issue 2. Voter approval of the issue means a Pope County casino will not be built.

Arkansas Secretary of State numbers show that 55.8% of voters were for Issue 2 as of 11:45 p.m. However, 55.6% of Pope County voters were against Issue 2 – an amendment based on the belief that voters should have a say about having a casino in their county.

Voters overwhelmingly approved Issue 1 with 89.7% of the vote as of 11:45 p.m. Issue 1 was a referred constitutional amendment from the Arkansas General Assembly that would expand the use of lottery proceeds so that they can be used to fund scholarships for Arkansas citizens enrolled in vocational- technical schools and technical institutes. The popular legislative referral was pushed by Rep. Robin Lundstrum, R-Elm Springs, and Sen. Jane English, R-North Little Rock.

Issue 2 passes, Pope County casino dead; Issue 1 receives voter approval

Poll: Voters suggest a mixed bag for Issues 1, 2 and 3

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

A new Talk Business & Politics-Hendrix College Poll shows about one-quarter of voters are still undecided on three amendment proposals to be considered this fall.

In the latest survey of 974 likely Arkansas voters, which was conducted Oct. 17-18, 2022, Issue 1 has an 11-point lead, Issue 2 is a dead-heat, and Issue 3 is slightly opposed by just three points.

Respondents were asked:

Q: Issue 1, would give the legislature the authority to convene in extraordinary session (special session) by joint proclamation of House and Senate leadership or by written proclamation containing the signatures of at least two-thirds of the members of both the House and Senate. If the election were held today, would you vote for or against Issue 1?

44.5% For
33.5% Against
22% Undecided

https://talkbusiness.net/2022/10/poll-voters-suggest-a-mixed-bag-for-issues-1-2-and-3/

Coalition forms against proposed changes to Arkansas ballot initiative process

KUAR | By Daniel Breen

A coalition of nonprofit groups has formed in opposition to a proposed amendment to the Arkansas Constitution on the November ballot.

The group, called Protect Arkansas Rights, opposes Issue 2 which would raise the number of votes needed to pass citizen-led ballot initiatives as well as constitutional amendments proposed by both citizens and state lawmakers.

Kwami Abdul-Bey, elections coordinator for the Arkansas Public Policy Panel, says a number of crucial state laws directly resulted from the state’s ballot initiative process.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/2022-09-22/coalition-forms-against-proposed-changes-to-arkansas-ballot-initiative-process

Meg Kelly/NPR

Issue 2 on the November ballot would make it harder to pass citizen-led ballot initiatives and proposed constitutional amendments in Arkansas.

Poll: Issue 1 sees support; Issues 2 and 3 a mixed bag

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

Three legislative-referred amendment proposals could all pass this November, although one measure has more support than the other two.

A new Talk Business & Politics-Hendrix College Poll of 835 likely Arkansas voters found a plurality of support for Issue 1, which would allow the Arkansas legislature to call itself into special session. Under the current state constitution, only the governor can call for an extraordinary session of the Arkansas General Assembly.

Q: Issue 1, would give the legislature the authority to convene in extraordinary session (special session) by joint proclamation of House and Senate leadership or by written proclamation containing the signatures of at least two-thirds of the members of both the House and Senate. If the election were held today, would you vote for or against Issue 1?

41% For
24% Against
35% Undecided

https://talkbusiness.net/2022/09/poll-issue-1-sees-support-issues-2-and-3-a-mixed-bag/

Group forms to oppose higher threshold for amendment, initiated act passage

by Roby Brock (roby@talkbusiness.net)

A legislative question committee announced its formation Tuesday (Sept. 20) to oppose Issue 2, a legislative-referred constitutional amendment proposal that would require a 60% voting threshold for new amendments or initiatives.

Issue 2, the “Constitutional Amendment and Ballot Initiative Reform Amendment”, would change the number of votes required for approval of initiated acts and constitutional amendments – both proposed by the people and referred by the legislature – to at least 60% of the votes cast.

Protect AR Rights, a citizen-led effort to “preserve Arkansans’ constitutional right to use ballot measures to reform our laws and political process,” has formed a Legislative Question Committee to oppose Ballot Issue 2 this November.

https://talkbusiness.net/2022/09/group-forms-to-oppose-higher-threshold-for-amendment-initiated-act-passage/