Latest news with #signaturecollection
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
League of Women Voters, Save AR Democracy launch statewide signature campaign
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/FOX24) — The League of Women Voters and Save AR Democracy launched their statewide signature collection campaign. This comes in response to certain state laws that were passed during the last legislative session, which make it increasingly difficult for citizens to propose laws for state ballots. The League has proposed an amendment that would help lessen some of these restrictions. President of the League of Women Voters, Bonnie Miller, said legislators need to be held accountable. 'By the grace of God': Sebastian County deputy recalls near death altercation 'It keeps the legislature from being able to amend a constitutional amendment with two thirds vote,' Miller said. 'It keeps them from being able to pass laws that change the process without a vote of the people. So, if our amendment passes in the future, if the legislature wants to make laws to change the process, they have to be approved by us, the voters, at the next general election.' Arkansas ranks first-place in election security, according to conservative group Arkansas state law requires 90,704 signatures to be signed before a proposed amendment can reach a state ballot. The earliest the League's proposed legislature could reach a ballot is November 2026. Today's event was to bring awareness and gain as many signatures as possible so the amendment could be passed to the ballot. The League is claiming that it's not a partisan issue or an Arkansas issue, but a nationwide problem. 'This is about politicians not wanting people to have power. They don't want people to become a policymaking body,' Miller said. 'That's what this power does for us, and we're really proud of the fact that Arkansas is the first state in the country. We are leading the nation and direct democracy, reform and protection with our lawsuit and with this measure.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Local group pushing to eliminate property taxes starts collecting signatures this week
LAKEWOOD, Ohio (WJW) – This week marks the start of a major push by a local group aimed at eliminating property taxes. Their goal is to collect enough signatures to get their petition on the November ballot. Beth Blackmarr, of Lakewood, said her home's assessed value went up over 50% when she got her property tax re-evaluation last year. 'I opened it up and nearly fainted. It went from $188,000 to $299,000. And I said, 'that's it,'' Blackmarr said. Legal bills show city cost of trying to keep Browns in Cleveland: I-Team In Ohio, state-mandated property reappraisals happen every six years. Blackmarr joined Citizens for Property Tax Reform, a Cuyahoga County grassroots group with a clear mission. 'Together, we formed the committee to eliminate property taxes and there has been movement,' Blackmarr said. This week marks the start of signature collection, as well as petition-signing events for an amendment that would be a clause to the Ohio Constitution abolishing property taxes. Earlier this month, it was certified by the Ohio Attorney General, giving it the green light to move forward. 'When it comes to signing this petition, a signature is not a vote. What we are looking for is the opportunity to take the vote to the citizens of Ohio,' Blackmarr said. State leaders still think it's too easy to amend the Ohio Constitution In order for it to make the November ballot, the group has quite a task ahead. 'Our goal is 600,000 signatures by July 1,' Blackmarr said. The group said critics of the proposed amendment argue that eliminating property taxes could impact funding for things like schools and other essential services. 'The Ohio Revised Code has built into it alternate funding for schools and city services, so they have this already in place,' Blackmarr said. Find more information on presentation and petition signing events here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
