The Amendment protects the people's right to propose, gather signatures for, and vote on ballot initiatives. This amendment restores power to Arkansans and limit political interference in the ballot measure process..

It ensures that the people of Arkansas have a say in what goes on the ballot. For more than a century, Arkansans have used ballot initiatives to pass laws when politicians refused to act. Recent laws passed by the Arkansas Legislature are designed to make it nearly impossible for citizens to propose and pass ballot initiatives.

The Legislature passed a series of laws designed to shut everyday Arkansans out of the ballot initiative process. They make signature gathering harder, make it easier for the Attorney General to block initiatives and make it easier for signatures to be disqualified.

The amendment affirms three fundamental rights: the right to propose ballot initiatives, the right to gather signatures, and the right to sign petitions.

Protect AR Rights is a coalition of community organizations who believe that power belongs to the people, not politicians. Our coalition includes Arkansas Advocates for Children & Families, Arkansas Appleseed Legal Justice Center, Arkansas Citizens First Congress, Arkansas Public Policy Panel, For AR People, The Arkansas Education Association, NAACP Arkansas State Conference and the Arkansas AFL-CIO.

This is not about partisanship or politics. It is about preserving a fundamental right that belongs to the people. This is about ensuring that all Arkansans continue to have a voice in their own future.

The idea of strengthening “integrity” is being used as a cover-up to strip away power from the people, but the current process already has numerous checks and balances that are working. These new laws are designed to make it nearly impossible for regular people to have a say in issues that affect our families, communities, and future.

No. There is no evidence of widespread petition fraud. Arkansas has not prosecuted a petition fraud case for more than a decade. Existing systems work well and already catch invalid signatures.

Right now people can sign up on our website, ProtectARRights.org, which also a great way to stay informed. We also encourage folks to share our messages on social media and in their communities. And please support Protect AR Rights with donations.

No. Right now, voters are never told if their signature is rejected or why. The Arkansas Ballot Measure Rights Amendment requires the state to notify voters if their signature is rejected and give them 10 days to either correct the issue or sign again. The existing 30- day cue period for campaigns to collect additional signatures stays the same.

Not at all. The state can use existing voter registration information to contact voters either by phone, mail or electronically. Similar notice requirements and processes are in place in other instances (e.g., registration, voting). This is not a significant burden on the state, and it ensures this fundamental right of Arkansas voters is protected.

Not necessarily. Federal Courts recognize parts of the ballot measure process as a right under the First Amendment. But some courts have allowed politicians to make it very difficult for citizens to exercise this right. In Arkansas, the state courts have made it even more difficult. This is because ballot participation is not explicitly recognized as a fundamental right in the Arkansas Constitution. The Arkansas Ballot Measure Rights Amendment would fix this and require the Arkansas courts to apply the strongest legal protections to ballot participation. 

It will become part of the state constitution, permanently protecting our right to direct democracy and ensuring that politicians cannot change the rules without voter approval.

If it does not pass, Arkansas will continue down a path where it becomes nearly impossible for citizens to propose ballot initiatives. The voice of everyday Arkansans will be drowned out by politicians and special interests. We cannot let this happen.

To protect the public and the integrity of the ballot measure process. People convicted of petition fraud, certain serious crimes, or who are on sex offender registries cannot collect signatures. However, the measure allows most former offenders to collect signatures once their voting rights have been restored. 

Yes. The current appeal process stays the same. 

To prevent abuse of the process. The Arkansas Ballot Measure Rights Amendment ensures that petition fraud is illegal, but the amendment makes clear that it requires intent to defraud. Some politicians have used vague laws to intimidate citizens and threaten to prosecute people for honest mistakes. Any future changes to fraud laws would require voter approval. 

Because our amendment’s strong voter protections already get the job done. The amendment limits changes to clerical actions only, establishes ballot initiative participation as a fundamental right, and requires voter approval for changes to petition fraud. 

No. The Amendment keeps the existing process for reviewing ballot measures but prevents politicians from abusing that authority to interfere with citizen-led initiatives.

Because politicians passed an unconstitutional law to raise it to 50 counties. Our amendment restores the constitutional 15-county rule so voters do not have to rely on uncertain or confusing court rulings.