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Amendment 7 to the Arkansas Constitution gives the people of Arkansas the power to propose legislation or constitutional amendments by initiative petition, and to order the referendum against any measure passed by the General Assembly. The petition must be signed by eight percent (8%) of the voters in the last gubernatorial race in the case of proposed legislation, ten percent (10%) in the case of proposed constitutional amendments, and six percent (6%) in the case of a referendum. The proposed legislation or constitutional amendment must be submitted to the legal voters of the state at a regular election; referendum petitions may be referred to the people at special elections when fifteen percent (15%) of the legal voters petition for such special election.
The 2008 signature requirements for proposed ballot issues are 77,468 for proposed constitutional amendments, 61,974 for proposed acts, and 46,481 for referenda. Sponsors must submit the required number of signatures to the Secretary of State for certification by the July 7, 2008 deadline.
Sponsors of statewide initiative petitions should seek approval of a popular name and ballot title from the Arkansas Attorney General before gathering signatures. The Secretary State has 30 days to verify signatures. If a petition is found not to contain the required number of valid signatures, the sponsor has 30 days to collect additional signatures. If the petition is determined to have the required number of signatures, the statewide initiative will appear on the General Election ballot in November.
For more in-depth information on the initiative process, click here to access the 2008 Initiative and Referendum Guidebook - PDF
Some legislative acts and constitutional amendments are referred directly to the voters by the state’s General Assembly. Below are three measures referred by the 86th General Assembly during their regular session in 2007 that appeared on the state’s November 4, 2008 General Election ballot.
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Referred Question No. 1 PDF | HTML
ACT 631 of 2007 - PDF
Arkansas Water, Waste Disposal, and Pollution Abatement Facilities Financing Act of 2007.
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Proposed Constitutional Amendment No. 1 PDF | HTML
SJR 4 of 2007 - PDF
An Amendment Concerning Voting, Qualifications of Voters and Election Officers, and the Time of Holding General Elections.
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Proposed Constitutional Amendment No. 2 PDF | HTML
HJR 1004 of 2007 - PDF
An Amendment Providing That No Legislative Appropriation Shall Be For a Period Longer Than One Year, Providing For Fiscal Legislative Sessions, Requiring the General Assembly to Meet Every Year With Regular Sessions Continuing to be Held in Odd-numbered Years and Fiscal Sessions Held in Even-numbered Years, Unless the General Assembly Votes to Hold Regular Sessions in Even-numbered Years and Fiscal Sessions in Odd-numbered Years, and Allowing the General Assembly to Consider Non-fiscal Matters During a Fiscal Session Upon Approval of Two-thirds of Both Houses.
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Petitions submitted to the Secretary of State’s office for the following proposed ballot issues contained the required number of valid signatures and were certified to appear on the November ballot.
Proposed Constitutional Amendment No. 3 PDF | HTML
AG Opinion No. 2007-288 - PDF
A Constitutional Amendment Authorizing the General Assembly to Establish, Operate, and Regulate State Lotteries to Fund Scholarships and Grants for Arkansas Citizens Enrolled in Certified Two-Year and Four-Year Colleges and Universities in Arkansas. (Hope For Arkansas, Sponsor)
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Proposed Initiative Act No. 1 PDF | HTML
AG Opinion No. 2007-293 - PDF
An Act Providing that an Individual who is Cohabiting Outside of a Valid Marriage May Not Adopt or be a Foster Parent of a Child Less than Eighteen Years Old. (Family Council Action Committee, Sponsor)
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