FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. What is “The Arkansas Ballot Measure Rights Amendment”?
The Arkansas Ballot Measure Rights Amendment is a constitutional amendment designed to protect the people's right to propose, gather signatures for, and vote on ballot initiatives. This amendment restores power to Arkansans and blocks political interference in the ballot measure process.
2. Why is your amendment necessary?
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. This amendment ensures that only the people of Arkansas—not politicians—decide what goes on the ballot.
3. What changes did the Arkansas Legislature make?
The Legislature recently passed a series of laws that add burdensome requirements for signature gathering, while also allowing the Attorney General to block initiatives more easily and making it easier for signatures to be disqualified. These changes are designed to shut everyday Arkansans out of the ballot initiative process.
4. How does the amendment protect direct democracy?
The amendment affirms three fundamental rights: the right to propose ballot initiatives, the right to gather signatures, and the right to sign petitions. And critically, it guarantees that any changes to these rights must be approved by voters, not politicians.
5. Who is behind this effort?
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, and NAACP Arkansas State Conference.
6. Is this a political move?
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.
7. Aren’t these new laws that were passed about election integrity?
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.
8. How can people get involved?
Right now people can get involved by signing 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 through donations.
9. What happens if the amendment passes?
If the Arkansas Ballot Initiative Amendment passes, 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.
10. What if it doesn’t pass?
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.