Ballot Initiative – Page 3

Arkansas Legislature Passes Law to Make Ballot Measure Summaries Easier to Understand

Apr 10, 2025Jerry CoxLegislationArkansas Legislature, Ballot Initiative

On Tuesday evening the Arkansas Legislature passed a law that will help make ballot measure summaries easier for voters to read and understand.

By law, all ballot measures in Arkansas must have a ballot title. The ballot title is a summary that is supposed to accurately describe the measure so voters can read it and decide if they want to vote for or against the measure.

Unfortunately, these summaries are often misleading, confusing, and poorly written. But H.B. 1713 would fix that.

H.B. 1713 is a good bill by Rep. Ryan Rose (R — Van Buren) and Sen. Mark Johnson (R — Little Rock) requiring ballot initiative titles to be written at or below an eighth grade reading level. This would help address deceptive or misleading ballot measure summaries in Arkansas.

The Arkansas House of Representatives passed H.B. 1713 in March. On Tuesday, the Arkansas Senate passed it as well.

Arkansas’ ballot initiative process has become the opposite of what it was intended to be, and if lawmakers do not act soon, the problem is simply going to get worse.

H.B. 1713 now goes to Governor Sanders to be signed into law.

The Following Senators Voted For H.B. 1713

J. Boyd
J. Bryant
Caldwell
A. Clark
Crowell
B. Davis
Dees
J. Dotson
J. English
Flippo
Gilmore
K. Hammer
Hester
Hickey
Hill
Irvin
B. Johnson
M. Johnson
F. Love
M. McKee
J. Payton
C. Penzo
J. Petty
Rice
J. Scott
Stone
G. Stubblefield
D. Sullivan
D. Wallace

The Following Senators Voted Against H.B. 1713

J. Dismang
S. Flowers
G. Leding
R. Murdock
C. Tucker

The Following Senator Was Excused from Voting

B. King

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

Senate Committee Passes Bill to Make Ballot Measure Summaries Readable

Apr 4, 2025Jerry CoxLegislationArkansas Legislature, Ballot Initiative

On Thursday the Senate State Agencies Committee passed a good bill to help make ballot measure summaries easier for voters to read.

All ballot initiatives in Arkansas have a ballot title. The ballot title is supposed to accurately summarize the measure so voters can read it and decide if they want to vote for or against the measure.

Unfortunately, ballot titles are often misleading, confusing, and poorly written. But H.B. 1713 would fix that.

The Arkansas House of Representatives passed the bill two weeks ago. On Thursday, the Senate State Agencies Committee passed it as well.

Arkansas’ ballot initiative process has become the opposite of what it was intended to be, and if lawmakers do not act soon, the problem is simply going to get worse.

H.B. 1713 now goes to the entire Arkansas Senate for a final vote.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

Arkansas House Passes Bill to Address Deceptive, Misleading Ballot Measures

Mar 21, 2025Jerry CoxLegislationArkansas Legislature, Ballot Initiative

On Wednesday the Arkansas House of Representatives passed a measure to help clarify state law concerning deceptively worded ballot measures.

The Arkansas Constitution lets canvassers circulate petitions to place measures on a general election ballot. Its original intent was to give citizens a way to function as a “legislative body.” Unfortunately, powerful special interests have used the initiative process to put flawed, misleading, and deceptive measures on the ballot in Arkansas.

H.B. 1713 by Rep. Ryan Rose (R — Van Buren) and Sen. Mark Johnson (R — Little Rock) requires ballot initiative titles to be written at or below an eighth grade reading level.

A ballot title is supposed to accurately summarize a measure so voters can decide if they support or oppose it. If a ballot title is misleading, complicated, or poorly written, voters may not understand what a measure would do.

H.B. 1713 is similar to legislation enacted in other states to help make sure ballot titles are easy for voters to read and understand. This will help address deceptive or misleading ballot initiatives in Arkansas.

Arkansas’ ballot initiative process has become the opposite of what it was intended to be, and if lawmakers do not act soon, the problem is simply going to get worse.

H.B. 1713 now goes to the Arkansas Senate for consideration.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.