Latest news with #BonnieMiller
Axios
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Push to protect ballot initiatives advances in Arkansas
A proposed amendment to the Arkansas Constitution could have a sweeping impact on voters' control over how future laws are shaped. Why it matters: The measure, backed by Arkansas' League of Women Voters and Save AR Democracy, seeks to require a statewide vote before changing Arkansas' direct democracy process. It would also streamline legal reviews and prohibit the state Legislature from amending or repealing constitutional amendments. Driving the news: Attorney General Tim Griffin's office on Wednesday approved the popular name and ballot title for the citizen-led constitutional amendment. His office rejected three previous drafts. The most recent rejection cited a 2025 law, Act 602, which requires the language to be at or below eighth-grade reading level according to the Flesch-Kincaid scale. The big picture: Arkansas voters can change or reject laws enacted by the state Legislature through a citizen-initiated ballot process. Changes can be in the form of a proposed ballot initiative as a state statute (a change to a law) or a constitutional amendment (a more significant change to the state's constitution). They also may repeal legislation with a veto referendum. Yes, but: In recent years, lawmakers have made the process more difficult, passing laws that riddle it with technicalities and all but require a group to be well funded to gather petition signatures. Acts 240 and 241, signed this year, require canvassers to submit an affidavit proclaiming they will follow Arkansas law and to check photo ID before a voter can sign a petition. Act 274 requires canvassers to certify a voter has read the ballot title summarizing the measure, or to read it aloud to the voter before they sign the petition. Flashback: Last year, three citizen-led initiatives collected enough signatures for the November ballot. However, the abortion amendment and the recreational marijuana amendment were eventually disqualified over paperwork. Only a measure to revoke a casino license and require voters to approve future licenses was included. Voters approved it by a wide majority. State of play: Supporters of the proposed amendment can now begin gathering signatures from registered voters. Signature requirements vary for each type of citizen-initiated proposal, based on a percentage of the votes cast in the most recent gubernatorial election. Constitutional amendments require 10%, or 90,704 signatures. Due to a 2023 law, signatures must be gathered from 50 counties instead of the previously required 15. What they're saying:"This victory belongs to every Arkansan who believes in the power of the people to shape their own government," Bonnie Miller, president of the League, said in a statement following Griffin's decision. "Despite the challenges, we refused to give up because the right to direct democracy is worth fighting for." What we're watching: It will be telling to see how quickly or slowly Arkansas voters sign the petition.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
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.
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
League of Women Voters submits Arkansas ballot question to roll back initiative changes
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The League of Women Voters of Arkansas submitted a proposed constitutional amendment to roll back many of the changes to ballot initiatives during the current legislature. Representatives of the group said the proposed amendment and ballot title had been submitted to the attorney general for approval. They said the proposal would reform the ballot initiative process and address concerns over transparency and accessibility. People speak out for & against bills aimed to change the way initiatives are placed on the Arkansas ballot The current session of the 95th General Assembly has seen numerous changes to the ballot initiative process, with more changes being proposed. The changes would make ballot initiatives, such as those in the past that have raised the minimum wage and approved medical marijuana, more challenging to accomplish. Critics of the process call out security concerns, such as the possibility of falsified signatures. League representatives said they had six key provisions in the proposal: Restricts legislative changes to citizen initiatives: Prohibits the General Assembly from amending a voter-approved constitutional amendment with a two-thirds vote. Streamlines ballot title approval: Requires the attorney general's office to approve or, if necessary, modify the language of ballot titles. Once approved, challenges must be filed within 45 days before the Arkansas Supreme Court, preventing legal disputes after signature collection. Protects referendum rights: Ensures the names and titles of referendums align with those assigned by the General Assembly to the laws they seek to repeal. Mandates separate votes on emergency clauses: Requires separate votes on legislation and emergency clauses, with at least 24 hours between them, to improve transparency. Eliminates legislative interference: Prohibits the General Assembly from amending or repealing constitutional amendments approved by voters. Simplifies signature collection: Allows canvassers to submit signatures under penalty of perjury, eliminating the need for notarization and streamlining the process. Bonnie Miller, president of the League of Women Voters of Arkansas, said the amendment is necessary to protect Arkansans' right to direct democracy. 'We believe filing this amendment is prudent because politicians have continually attacked Arkansans' constitutional right to petition our government,' Miller said. 'Attempts to weaken and dismantle the first power reserved by the people are an existential threat to democracy in Arkansas. Power belongs in the hands of voters, not politicians and lobbyists.' Pressure for, against petition process changes in Arkansas legislature Attorney General Tim Griffin has 10 days to review the ballot title and popular name. If approved, supporters must collect 90,704 valid signatures to qualify the measure for the November 2026 ballot. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
