Attorney general approves Arkansas League of Women Voters, Save AR Democracy ballot title for referendum roll-back
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The Arkansas attorney general approved a ballot title on Wednesday that could change the way citizens bring issues to the ballot for voters to decide.
This was the third ballot title submitted by the League of Women Voters of Arkansas to the attorney general. The league, along with the Save AR Democracy group, intends to ask voters whether access to the referendum process should be part of the Arkansas Constitution.
Arkansas coalition submits proposed ballot initiative to overturn legislative changes to referendum law
Attorney General Tim Griffin's opinion that accompanied the approval said the group's submission had appropriate language in the title, as compared to the previous submissions.
The league president classified Wednesday's decision as a victory.
'This victory belongs to every Arkansan who believes in the power of the people to shape their own government,' League president Bonnie Miller said. 'Despite the challenges, we refused to give up because the right to direct democracy is worth fighting for.'
Two additional groups ask to join Arkansas League of Women Voters suit against changes to referendum law
Secretary of State Cole Jester's office says the next step in the process is to meet with someone from its elections division and start collecting their signatures to try to get enough valid signatures to get it on the ballot.
By state law, the group will need to gather 90,704 signatures, amounting to 10% of the total number of votes cast for governor in the last election.
The league has also filed a lawsuit against the referendum changes.
The most recent legislative session created several laws that tightened access to the referendum process, including multiple laws on signature gathering and the reading level of the title. The group's second submission being above an eighth-grade reading level is what led to its rejection.
This is the first ballot title approved under the new laws.
A recent successful ballot initiative in Arkansas was an amendment repealing the Pope County casino's license. In the past, a 2018 initiative increased the state's minimum wage, and a 2016 initiative established an Arkansas medical marijuana program.
Arkansas League of Women Voters speaks on lawsuit regarding changes voter referendum process
Other ballot initiatives to increase access to marijuana failed in 2022 and 2024.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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