Latest news with #ArkansasBallotMeasureRightsAmendment
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Arkansas ranks first-place in election security, according to conservative group
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – From number eight to number one, Arkansas has moved up in the Heritage Foundation's Election Security Scorecard. Secretary of State Cole Jester says it's all due to eight recent key changes, including policies from his office. 'We're partnering with the federal government to get DHA, Homeland Security data on illegal immigrants who might be on our rolls and using credit agencies to flag addresses that may be industrial or just don't exist,' Jester said. Arkansas coalition submits proposed ballot initiative to overturn legislative changes to referendum law Arkansas is now sharing voter registration data with other states to check for people registered in multiple states, along with implementing other new policies. Recently passed laws have also contributed to the new ranking. 'One, getting data from federal juries so we can eliminate people who shouldn't be on our voter registration list, two, requiring a witness for absentee ballots,' Jester said. Gennie Diaz, with the democracy rights advocacy group Protect AR Rights, said they would like to see policies that make democracy more accessible, not less. 'It's a really interesting contrast, if you will, from where we rank in voter participation and then this declaration that our state is number one in voter integrity. I think there is a big chasm there,' Diaz said. While the Heritage Foundation does not have a ranking category dedicated to the petition process, Jester said one of the eight changes includes mandating a photo ID for signing initiative petitions. There are 100 factors that determine the ranking based on a point system. Arkansas League of Women Voters files federal suit, calls changes to voter referendum process 'Unconstitutional' Protect AR Rights is proposing the Arkansas Ballot Measure Rights Amendment, which aims to block existing laws they believe interfere with the right to sign petitions and collect signatures. 'How can we find ways to, of course, protect the voting process and the petition process, but also make it easier for people to vote? Because in our state it's just incredibly difficult, and often fewer than half of our registered voters turn out for elections,' Diaz said. Jester said these are common-sense laws and policies, while Diaz questioned the practical benefit of the ranking for voters. 'What does this number one ranking for election integrity actually mean for the voters of this state? Is this just simply a ranking that we get because we check off certain boxes with this particular think tank, or is this something we're actually working toward as a state?' Diaz said. 'Things like when a ballot is damaged and remade, procedural checks to make sure it's done correctly, things like nursing homes requiring two witnesses, two assisters when you're helping someone fill out their ballot, just common-sense steps everyone can get behind,' Jester said. Lawmakers seek to rein in citizen ballot initiatives with new requirements for petitions To view the scorecard, please visit Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Second Arkansas ballot measure rejected for failing to meet reading-level standard
Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families Executive Director Keesa Smith-Brantley discusses a proposed constitutional amendment submitted to the attorney general's office during a press conference at the state Capitol on May 19, 2025. (Sonny Albarado/Arkansas Advocate) Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin on Monday said he could not certify a proposed constitutional amendment related to direct democracy because it violates a new state law that prohibits ballot titles from being written above an eighth-grade reading level. Act 602, which became law in April, prohibits the attorney general from certifying a proposed ballot title with a reading level above eighth grade as determined by the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level formula. The test uses word complexity and sentence lengths to calculate what grade of education is needed to comprehend written material. 'The ballot title you have submitted ranks at grade 11.5. Thus, your ballot title requires significant revisions before it complies with the Act,' according to Monday's opinion, which was prepared by Assistant Attorney General Jodie Keener and approved by Griffin. Monday's opinion identified additional issues with the proposal, including ambiguity regarding the Arkansas General Assembly's authority and how conflicting measures become law. The Arkansas Ballot Measure Rights Amendment, sponsored by the Protect AR Rights coalition, would amend Article 5 Section 1 of the Arkansas Constitution, the section that governs the state's initiative and referendum process. It would designate as a 'fundamental right' the right of voters to propose laws and constitutional amendments that can be put to a statewide vote. Among its various provisions, the measure would require petition signatures be gathered from at least 15 counties instead of 50 and would explicitly prohibit the Arkansas General Assembly from amending or repealing a constitutional amendment approved by voters. This is the second ballot measure proposed this year in response to state lawmakers approving about a dozen direct democracy-related laws during the 2025 legislative session. Supporters of the new laws have said they will ensure the integrity of the initiative and referendum process, while opponents have argued it will make it more difficult for citizen-led initiatives to qualify for the ballot. The direct democracy process allows Arkansans to propose new laws or constitutional amendments and put them to a statewide vote. Arkansas is one of 24 states that allows citizen-led initiatives, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Protect AR Rights spokesperson Bill Kopsky said in a phone interview that Monday's decision was expected because the attorney general often rejects the first draft of a proposed ballot title. The ballot question committee intends to request a meeting with Griffin's staff to gather feedback, Kopsky said. In an emailed statement, Protect AR Rights noted this was 'the first step in a long process, and our coalition remains fully committed to protecting the rights of Arkansans to shape their own laws.' Griffin's rejection of the group's proposed amendment reinforces why it's 'so urgently needed,' according to the group. 'We're reviewing the AG's feedback and will revise and resubmit our amendment. But let's be clear: the new 8th grade reading requirement — passed by politicians trying to limit access to the ballot — is a serious barrier to a fundamental right,' the statement reads. 'We believe measures should be clear, accessible, and accurate. That's exactly why we're fighting this provision in court.' Court filings reveal opposition to intervening motion in Arkansas direct democracy lawsuit Protect AR Rights and For AR Kids, another ballot question committee pursuing an education-focused constitutional amendment, are trying to challenge Act 602 by intervening in a federal lawsuit that challenges several other new laws governing the state's direct democracy process. The League of Women Voters of Arkansas filed the lawsuit against the secretary of state in April. The League proposed its own direct democracy-related ballot measure this year that was thrice rejected by the attorney general, including once for violating Act 602. Griffin substituted and certified the popular name and ballot title so it met the eighth grade-reading level requirement on May 21. That means the League can begin gathering signatures to try to place their measure on the 2026 ballot. In response to the motion to intervene, both the League and the state argued in court filings last week that Protect AR Rights lacks standing and is not entitled to intervene in the case. Protect AR Rights could file its own lawsuit if a judge dismisses the motion to intervene, but Kopsky said the court would likely freeze both lawsuits while deciding whether to consolidate them. 'We believe it would slow the process down substantially, which doesn't seem to be in anybody's interest,' he said. 'So we were surprised that they opposed the motion to intervene, but our legal team is going to respond to it in a way that's appropriate. The bottom line is we're committed to protecting the right to direct democracy and the right to have access to ballot measures in the state.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Arkansas coalition speaks on proposed ballot measure process amendment
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — , a coalition of advocacy groups, is proposing a constitutional amendment called the Arkansas Ballot Measure Rights Amendment. aims to certify and restore the right of Arkansas citizens to propose and sign ballot measures and collect signatures. 'This past legislative session they passed such a big package of bills it essentially killed the ballot measure process for grassroots Arkansans,' said Bill Kopsky with Protect AR Rights. Arkansas coalition submits proposed ballot initiative to overturn legislative changes to referendum law New laws passed by the Arkansas Legislature include requirements such as ballot titles being read aloud to a signer, canvassers signing an affidavit stating they complied with the Arkansas Constitution and petition signers presenting a photo ID. State Sen. Kim Hammer (R-Benton) sponsored some of the legislation and said it strengthens the ballot initiative process. He said there is ample evidence of abuse of the system. 'I don't think they're strict regulations, I think they're regulations that make sure the process is at the highest level of integrity and that it brings safeguards into place that make sure that when someone signs that or somebody is asking for that to be signed, that every signature is counted for the value of the signature itself,' Hammer said. Kopsky said the new laws drag out the petition process and make it harder to get an initiative on the ballot. He believes the legislation is part of a broader effort to limit citizen participation in the legislative process. 'The Arkansas Legislature has been trying to strip away the rights of Arkansas citizens to use the ballot measure process to change the laws,' Kopsky said. ACLU representing two groups hoping to join Arkansas ballot bill lawsuit Hammer pushed back on criticisms, saying the intent behind the new rules is to protect the integrity of the process. 'The question of motive should not be on us, should be on those who are trying to stop what is going to bring about a clearer process,' he said. The ballot title has been submitted to the Attorney General's office for review. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Arkansas coalition submits proposal to protect ‘fundamental right' to direct democracy
Arkansas Public Policy Panel Executive Director Bill Kopsky discusses a proposed constitutional amendment to preserve direct democracy in Arkansas during a press conference at the state Capitol on May 19, 2025. Kopsky's organization is a member of Protect AR Rights, the ballot question committee that submitted its proposal to the attorney general's office on Monday. Other coalition members, including Kymara Seals (right) stand behind him. (Sonny Albarado/Arkansas Advocate) An Arkansas ballot question committee announced Monday it had submitted a proposed constitutional amendment to protect voters' right to direct democracy. The Arkansas Ballot Measure Rights Amendment, sponsored by Protect AR Rights, would amend Article 5 Section 1 of the Arkansas Constitution, the section that governs the state's initiative and referendum process, to designate voters' right to propose laws and constitutional amendments that can be put to a statewide vote as a 'fundamental right.' This is the second such effort proposed this year in response to state lawmakers approving about a dozen direct democracy-related laws during the 2025 legislative session. Supporters of the new laws have said they will ensure the integrity of the initiative and referendum process, while opponents have argued it will make it more difficult for citizen-led initiatives to qualify for the ballot. The direct democracy process allows Arkansans to propose new laws or constitutional amendments and put them to a statewide vote. Arkansas is one of 24 states that allows citizen-led initiatives, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Members of the six organizations that comprise the coalition behind Protect AR Rights gathered inside the Capitol to formally announce their ballot measure Monday. During the press conference, Arkansas Public Policy Panel Executive Director Bill Kopsky said their proposal 'strengthens three fundamental citizen rights' in the state Constitution — the right to propose ballot measures, the right to gather signatures on petitions and the right to sign a ballot measure petition. 'Sadly some politicians don't trust voters…and they've stripped the right to the ballot measure process away from us,' Kopsky said. 'They are rigging the rules to make it nearly impossible for everyday Arkansans to propose ballot measures to ask their fellow citizens to sign and support measures and to even sign one themselves. We must stand up to this unprecedented power grab.' Arkansas grassroots organizations seek to intervene in lawsuit challenging direct democracy laws The Arkansas Ballot Measure Rights Amendment would make several changes to the state's initiative and referendum process, including prohibiting the General Assembly from amending or repealing constitutional amendments that voters approved; current law allows lawmakers to do so by a two-thirds majority vote. The proposed measure would only grant that authority for initiated acts. The measure would also make changes to the signature-gathering process by prohibiting a requirement that signatures be collected from more than 15 counties. A 2023 law, which is being challenged in court, increased the threshold to 50 counties. If a qualified voter's signature is deemed insufficient and therefore will be disqualified and not counted, the proposed measure would require the elector to be notified and given at least 10 business days to correct 'any identified insufficiency.' Notification and a minimum cure period of 10 business days would also be required for the sponsors of a measure if there is a filing error. The proposed constitutional amendment would also require a ballot title challenge to be filed within 10 business days of the title's approval and be 'tried at once with expedited review if appealed.' Additionally, the measure defines petition fraud and declares it a criminal offense. The League of Women Voters of Arkansas is also pursuing its own proposed constitutional amendment aimed at protecting voters' right to direct democracy. Attorney General Tim Griffin has rejected the measure three times. In his most recent rejection earlier this month, Griffin cited a new law that prohibits ballot titles from being written above an eighth-grade reading level. This was the first time he rejected a proposed ballot measure under Act 602, which became law in April. Protect AR Rights tried to make its proposal 'as readable as possible,' but Kopsky said he doesn't think it's possible to meet the eighth-grade reading level and the clarity standard. For that reason, Protect AR Rights last week filed a motion to intervene in a League of Women Voters of Arkansas lawsuit challenging new state laws, he said. 'We believe we'll get injunctive relief,' Kopsky said. 'If we don't, we'll have to rethink our strategy.' The League of Women Voters of Arkansas' lawsuit alleges eight recently approved laws governing direct democracy violate the First and 14th amendments to the U.S. Constitution. Protect AR Rights noted in its motion to intervene that the committee wants to challenge additional laws not included in the lawsuit, including Act 602 of 2025. Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families is a member of the Protect AR Rights coalition. Executive Director Keesa Smith-Brantley said Monday that the group's goal is for the proposals from Protect AR Rights and the League of Women Voters of Arkansas to work together. 'We do not want there to be any confusion. We believe that they have critical components,' she said. 'There were things that we felt like we needed to equally add to make sure that we enshrine the rights of Arkansans in the Constitution, but we are hopeful to be able to work together in this process and talk about ways that we can make sure that both of the measures that we're working on get passed.' Under state law, the attorney general's office has 10 business days to approve or reject the proposed ballot measures. The League of Women Voters submitted the latest version of its proposal May 7 and is owed a response from Griffin by Wednesday. The deadline for a response on Protect AR Rights' measure is June 3. The attorney general's office does not have any other pending ballot title proposals, Griffin's communication's director Jeff LeMaster confirmed Monday. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
