Lawsuit Challenges Arkansas Ballot Initiative Restrictions

The League of Women Voters of Arkansas and allied groups have filed a federal lawsuit challenging both new and some longstanding Arkansas laws that restrict the ballot initiative and referendum process. Plaintiffs argue that requirements such as mandatory ID checks, reading ballot titles aloud, warning about fraud, Arkansas residency for canvassers, and filing affidavits unconstitutionally hinder citizen-led initiatives, violating both the state and U.S. Constitutions. The lawsuit notes that voters previously rejected similar restrictions at the ballot box. State Senator Kim Hammer and Secretary of State Cole Jester lead support for the laws, claiming the measures are needed to prevent fraud and protect election integrity, despite critics citing rare instances of fraud. Attorney General Tim Griffin has pledged to defend the laws in court. The outcome could reshape how Arkansas citizens propose and approve new laws, with broader implications for voting rights.