Ballot Initiative – Page 3

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.

Family Council Supports Amendment Requiring Ballot Measures to Pass in a Majority of Counties

Mar 19, 2025Jerry CoxLegislationArkansas Legislature, Ballot Initiative

On Monday evening Family Council President Jerry Cox testified in support of a proposed amendment that would require ballot measures to pass in a majority of Arkansas’ counties in order to become law.

As we have written many times this year, 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.

If a campaign has enough money, it can hire hundreds of petition canvassers to collect signatures to place a measure on the ballot, and it can run deceptive advertising to support that ballot measure.

The way Arkansas’ ballot initiative process works right now, voters in a handful of counties can decide the outcome of a ballot measure that impacts every corner of the state, because the Arkansas Constitution only requires ballot measures to receive a simple majority vote in order to pass.

That means special interest groups who back a ballot measure can focus on campaigning for their measure in a handful of populated areas. A ballot measure that is really bad for rural Arkansans might pass if enough voters in the metropolitan areas support it.

H.J.R. 1017 by Rep. David Ray (R — Maumelle) and Sen. John Payton (R — Wilburn) would require ballot measures to pass with a majority vote statewide and in a majority of Arkansas’ counties in order to become law.

This means under H.J.R. 1017, a constitutional amendment, initiated act, or a measure referred by the Arkansas Legislature would need to receive at least 51% of the vote statewide, and it would need to pass in at least 38 of Arkansas’ 75 counties.

H.J.R. 1017 is a good measure that would keep metropolitan areas from running roughshod over rural communities, and it would help ensure ballot measure sponsors actually campaign statewide instead of focusing on Arkansas’ cities.

You can watch Family Council President Jerry Cox’s committee testimony on H.J.R. 1017 below.

Bill Addressing Paid Petition Canvassing Heads to Arkansas Senate

Mar 18, 2025Jerry CoxLegislationArkansas Legislature, Ballot Initiative

On Monday the Arkansas House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a good bill clarifying the definition of “paid canvasser” in the state’s ballot initiative laws.

If a campaign has enough money, it can hire hundreds of petition canvassers to collect signatures to place a measure on the ballot.

Last month pro-life leaders testified in committee that canvassers for the 2024 Arkansas Abortion Amendment allegedly violated state law and were paid $500 bonuses for “altercations” with pro-lifers who opposed the abortion amendment.

H.B. 1714 by Rep. Ryan Rose (R — Van Buren) and Sen. Kim Hammer (R — Benton) clarifies the definition of a “paid canvasser” in state law.

Current law says that anyone who receives anything of value in return for soliciting signatures on a petition is a paid canvasser. Paid canvassers are subject to certain laws that do not apply to volunteer canvassers.

H.B. 1714 further clarifies that receiving anything of value includes receiving payment for items like food, lodging, travel, bonuses, fees, gift cards, and other payments associated with obtaining signatures on a petition. This will help bring better clarity to state law.

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. 1714 now goes to the Arkansas Senate for consideration.