The purpose of an Attorney General review and certification is to ensure that the popular name and ballot title honestly, intelligibly, and fairly set forth the purpose of the proposed amendment or act. Only after a ballot issue is certified can groups circulate petitions seeking voter signatures in support of putting the issue on the ballot.
Rejected Measures:
Sept. 17 - A proposed constitutional amendment, "The Arkansas Marriage Equality Amendment," was rejected because of deficiencies in the ballot title and text. Opinion No. 2013-111 stated that the ballot title was deficient "because it makes no attempt to summarize for the voter what effect your proposal would have on existing law." Jennifer Pierce of Little Rock submitted the proposal. Sept. 19 - A proposed constitutional amendment, also known as "The Arkansas Marriage Equality Amendment," was rejected because of deficiencies in the ballot title and text. Opinion No. 2013-112 stated, "You have made no attempt to describe to the voter how your proposal would change existing constitutional and statutory law." The opinion cited several other ambiguities in the text. Jack Weir III and Christopher Jacks of Maumelle submitted the proposal. Sept. 19 - "An Act to Restrict Corporate Spending to Influence Elections in Arkansas" was rejected because of "because there is a fundamental inconsistency between these two main portions of your proposal and (2) because of other ambiguities in your proposal's text," Opinion No. 2013-113 stated. The proposed election spending law was submitted by Paul Spencer, co-chair of Regnat Populus, of Little Rock. Oct. 2 - A proposed constitutional amendment, "Ban Prohibition of Cannabis," was rejected because of ambiguities in the ballot and text. Opinion No. 2013-117 stated, "As drafted, your measure misleadingly suggests that repealing state laws "pertaining to the cannabis plant" will enable individuals to engage in cultivation of the plant for various unspecified purposes." Lieutenant Colonel Majorie LeClair of Shirley submitted the proposal. Oct. 7 - A proposed constitutional amendment, also known as "The Arkansas Marriage Equality Amendment," was rejected for a second time in 30 days because of ambiguities in the ballot title and text, according to Opinion No. 2013-121. Jack Weir III of Maumelle submitted the proposal on behalf of Arkansas Initiative for Marriage Equality. Oct. 7 - "The Arkansas Marriage Amendment" was rejected because of ambiguities in the text. Opinion No. 2013-122 stated that in a previous submission, "I noted that your ballot title was wholly deficient because it made no attempt to summarize for the voter how your proposal would affect existing law. While your current proposal does attempt such a summary, it does so in a way that creates an ambiguity. In short, there seems to be a disconnect between your understanding of the proposal (as explained in your proposed ballot title) and your proposal's text." The proposal was submitted by Jennifer Pierce of Little Rock, who previously submitted the proposal as "The Arkansas Marriage Equality Amendment." Certified Measures - Approved for signature gathering: Oct. 3 - Arkansans for Compassionate Care's proposed ballot issue seeking to make the medical use and sale of marijuana legal was approved for signature gathering. Opinion No. 2013-118 certified "The Arkansas Medical Cannabis Act," which was submitted by Melissa Fults, Campaign Director for Arkansans for Compassionate Care, of Hensley. Sept. 19 - A proposed constitutional amendment seeking to repeal an existing amendment on same-sex marriage was certified. Opinion No. 2013-114 certified the measure "Repeal of the Arkansas Marriage Amendment." The proposal was submitted by Christina Harrison, founder of Arkansans for Equality, of Little Rock. Arkansans approved the original amendment in 2004 with 75 percent of the vote in favor. Sept. 16 - A proposed constitutional amendment to change the terms of county officials from two years to four years was certified. Opinion No. 2013-110 certified the ballot title, "Four Year Terms of Office For Elected County Officials, Justices of the Peace, and Constables." David Dinwiddie of Pine Bluff submitted the ballot issue. Aug. 6 - Arkansans for Responsible Medicine saw their proposed ballot issue seeking to make the medical use and sale of marijuana legal approved for signature gathering. Opinion No. 2013-081 said the popular name and ballot title for the "Arkansas Medical Marijuana Act" are "sufficient as proposed." The proposed ballot issue was submitted by David Couch, representing Arkansans for Responsible Medicine. Jan. 1 - In Opinion No. 2012-148, the Attorney General approved the popular name and ballot title submitted by the Regnat Populus ballot question committee. The committee submitted "The Campaign Finance and Lobbying Act of 2014." - Constitutional amendments require 78,133 valid signatures
- State statutes require 62,507 valid signatures
- The deadline to submit signatures is July 7, 2014
|