What’s Issue 3?

Issue 3 is a legislative-referred amendment to the Arkansas Constitution that proposes substantial changes to our current ballot initiative process. It would:

• Triple the number of counties where signatures are required to be collected — from 15 to 45 counties

• Shorten the filing deadline by cutting six months from the signature collection period

• Eliminate the 30-day cure period — or grace period — allowed for groups to collect additional signatures to offset those invalidated in the signature verification process

• Increase requirements for approval from a simple majority to a three-fifths majority of both chambers of the legislature

• Reduce or possibly eliminate the public notice requirement on ballot measures

WHY DO WE OPPOSE IT?

• It unravels a century of tradition. For over 100 years, Arkansans have had the right to bring forth ballot measures on issues important to them. Arkansas is one of only 14 states in which citizen initiatives go straight to the voters for consideration. That means Arkansans hold more power in their policymaking process than citizens of most other states. Let's keep it that way.

• It limits direct democracy. Government should be by the people and work for the people. Every Arkansan should have a say in shaping the policies on issues that matter to them most. Our current initiative process ensures that happens. This is important because many laws that would help everyday citizens — such as the recently passed state minimum wage increase — have stalled in the Arkansas General Assembly under the influence of lobbyists.

• It shirks accountability and transparency. Issue 3 would permit the General Assembly to change the law to reduce — or altogether eliminate — the essential public notice requirement.

• It favors big money over everyday citizens in our policymaking process. More work across more counties in a shorter timespan with no cure period means a substantial increase in the cost of gathering the number of required signatures. Issue 3 unfairly tilts the initiative process towards politicians and lobbyists and against smaller grassroots groups due to the high cost of gathering signatures.

Questions? Email us here. Citizens First Congress is part of Protect AR Rights, a citizen-led coalition working to ensure that every Arkansan's constitutional right to petition for measures to appear on the ballot is protected. Follow us on Facebook.