LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) – Arkansas’ Senate and House have passed separate but
identical bills which would change the way wording for ballot initiatives and
constitutional amendments are reviewed and certified.
The bills passed Monday would give the Board of Elections Commissioners
instead of the Attorney General the power to certify submitted proposals after
all signatures are gathered and submitted. They also increase the punishment for
petition fraud.
Critics from both sides of the political spectrum say the bills would make it
harder for the public to submit petitions because it can be prohibitively costly
to gather signatures for ballot measures which may not be certified.
But supporters say the bills will add transparency to the initiative proposal
process.
At least one of the bills needs to be approved by both chambers.
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