Arkansas League of Women Voters speaks on lawsuit regarding changes voter referendum process
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – A lawsuit by the Arkansas League of Women Voters against Arkansas Secretary of State Cole Jester alleges six new laws violate the Arkansas and Federal Constitution.
Kristin Foster with the League of Women Voters of Arkansas says the laws make the ballot initiative process more difficult.
'The people's power and voice in our ballot initiative process is so important to Arkansas that we cannot just let this lie,' Foster said.
Arkansas League of Women Voters files federal suit, calls changes to voter referendum process 'Unconstitutional'
The suit alleges the laws violate the First and Fourteenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution and a part of the state constitution.
'The restrictions they have placed go far beyond reasonable election security to the point of just preventing people from being involved in the process, from getting issues to the ballot at all,' Foster said.
The laws were highly debated during this session. Some people testifying against the bills believe they would wipe out the ballot initiative process.
When asked about that argument, Jester said in a statement, 'The laws in no way eliminate the process: instead, they keep fraud out and protect the voice of Arkansans. Under Arkansas's constitution, a signature on an initiative petition is your vote, and this office will always find voter fraud unacceptable.'
They require signature canvassers to check ID, read the ballot title out loud, warn signatories about fraud, live in Arkansas, file an affidavit and not collect additional signatures after they have filed the collected signatures.
'We want it to be safe and secure just like the legislature does, but it's just making sure this process is done without unnecessary barriers to the ballot,' Jester said.
Arkansas League of Women Voters resubmits ballot initiative reform proposal
The Arkansas League of Women Voters has also submitted a referendum for voters to roll back the referendum process changes on the 2026 ballot. The organization is working on a third submission to the Arkansas Attorney General.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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