17-05-2025
ACLU representing two groups hoping to join Arkansas ballot bill lawsuit
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – New laws in Arkansas dealing with the direct democracy process are facing legal pushback.
The League of Women Voters of Arkansas has filed a lawsuit against Secretary of State Cole Jester, and now the ACLU of Arkansas, representing For AR Kids and Protect AR Rights, wants to join the suit.
John Williams is the Legal Director for the ACLU of Arkansas.
'That's just a motion saying we have a similar interest in the lawsuit that the League of Women Voters does, asking the judge to allow us to participate in the lawsuit, rather than filing our own because we have similar claims,' Williams said.
Arkansas League of Women Voters speaks on lawsuit regarding changes voter referendum process
The ACLU argues that the new laws infringe on First Amendment rights. Some of the challenged laws include requiring canvassers to verify the IDs of petition signers, placing restrictions on who can canvass, and mandating that ballot initiatives be written at an eighth-grade reading level or lower.
The attorney general recently denied ballot language submitted by the League due to this law. Williams says one of their clients are concerned as they pursue their own ballot measure.
'It's sort of an artificial way to judge the ballot title and it makes it more difficult to get anything on the ballot,' he said.
Supporters of the laws say they are constitutional and help prevent fraud.
In a statement, Secretary of State Cole Jester said, 'We are proud to defend these common sense laws. I have promised from day one to protect Arkansas's electoral processes, and we will always fight to do so. I am thankful to have Attorney General Tim Griffin's excellent representation.'
Two additional groups ask to join Arkansas League of Women Voters suit against changes to referendum law
Williams said the parties have two weeks to look over the motion. Both of his clients, For AR Kids, and Protect AR Rights, are at different stages of the process.
'We're saying that we think it's an infringement on First Amendment rights of the folks who are trying to bring these petitions and that we're going to stand up for those First Amendment rights,' Williams said.
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