The state’s Supreme Court rejects a petition to block the upcoming vote, but questions remain
The Arkansas Supreme Court has allowed part of a proposed anti-casino ballot measure to proceed, though its future remains uncertain as another key decision is still pending. The ballot initiative, known as Issue 2, aims to revoke a casino license in Pope County and requires any future casinos to be approved in a countywide special election before obtaining a license.
In a ruling this week, the court rejected a petition from the Arkansas Canvassing Compliance Committee (ACCC), which had challenged the way signatures for the measure were gathered. The ACCC had claimed that the committee supporting the measure, Local Voters in Charge, unlawfully incentivized canvassers and provided misleading information about the purpose of the initiative. The court found insufficient evidence to invalidate the signatures based on these claims.
Special Master Randy Wright, appointed to hear the case, previously confirmed that over 116,000 signatures were validated, surpassing the 90,704 needed to get the amendment on the ballot. However, nearly 6,000 of those signatures were disqualified for insufficient addresses. Still, the remaining total is enough for the measure to proceed to a vote, at least for now.
The next significant decision will address whether the name and title of the ballot measure are clear enough for voters to make an informed choice. The ACCC contends that the language is misleading and aims to undo a decision made by Arkansas voters in 2018, when they approved a fourth casino license.
While both sides await the court’s final ruling, early voting is scheduled to begin on October 21. Local Voters in Charge remains hopeful that Arkansans will have their say on the measure, while opponents argue it could have serious consequences for jobs and tax revenue in the Bear State.
