Fall Candidate ELECTIONS SET

But Still Waiting on Issue Campaigns

by Roby Brock

While the presidential election will suck much of the political oxygen out of the room in 2024, Arkansas’ November ballot will be unusually lower profile.

Arkansas won’t have a governor or U.S. Senate race this cycle, but we will have four contested Congressional elections.

In Arkansas’ 1st Congressional District, U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford, R-Jonesboro, will face Democrat Rodney Govens, a 40year year old Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran from Cabot, and Libertarian Steve Parsons in the November general election.

U.S. Rep. French Hill, R-Little Rock, will square off against Democrat Marcus Jones, a retired U.S. Army Lt. Col., in the general election for the 2nd Congressional District job.

In the 3rd Congressional District, U.S. Rep. Steve Womack, faces Democrat Caitlin Draper in the general election. Draper is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), small business owner and community advocate. The Libertarian Party nominated Bobby Wilson in the Third District.

U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman, R-Hot Springs, will have two general election opponents in the 4th Congressional District race. Democrat Risie Howard, a lawyer from Pine Bluff and daughter of former U.S. District Court Judge George Howard Jr., and Independent John White, who ran and lost as a Democrat in the 2022 election, filed Tuesday to enter the race.

There will also be the run-off election for Arkansas Supreme Court’s Chief Justice position between Justice Karen Baker and Justice Rhonda Wood. Whoever loses the race, will still serve on the state’s high court. Gov. Sarah Sanders will get to appoint a replacement for the vacancy that will be created by the winner.

In November, Arkansas will see a rare off-year special election for Treasurer of State due to the untimely death of former Treasurer Mark Lowery in 2023. The special election this year will be to fill the remaining two years of the four-year term. Republican Secretary of State John Thurston, Democrat John Pagan, and Libertarian Dr. Michael Pakko are all seeking the treasurer’s post.

Of course, local races for legislature, county and municipal seats will also draw attention. For bankers, electing state representatives and senators who understand financial and banking issues will be key.

What may be the most high-profile elections this fall will center around ballot issues, assuming some of the potential amendments and acts qualify and stay on the ballot. There are seven proposals that must gather anywhere from 72,000 (initiated acts) to 93,000 (constitutional amendments) valid voter signatures to qualify. After that, they must be certified by the Secretary of State’s office and survive probable legal challenges. If all of those thresholds are met, then voters will get a chance to cast ballots on them this Fall.

The General Assembly only referred one proposal to voters, and it simply allows lottery scholarship money to be used for vocational and technical school scholarships. It will be known as Issue 1.

The rest must overcome their largest hurdle: your signature. In the coming weeks, you’ll be asked to sign a petition when you come out of the grocery store, attend a Spring festival, or any other gathering such as a reunion, concert, or baseball game.

To help you decide now if you want to have a chance to vote for any of these measures, here is a handy overview of each one of the proposals that has garnered approval by the Attorney General to seek signatures to qualify.

An Act To Exempt Feminine Hygiene Products And Diapers From Sales And Use Tax

This one does what it says. It would eliminate the sales tax on items like tampons as well as diapers. The thought originally was feminine hygiene products are an extra sales tax burden on women, not men. The diaper clause was added to broaden its appeal to help younger families who are in their child-bearing years and could use the tax break.

Absentee Voting Amendment Of 2024

Supporters of this proposal claim there needs to be more oversight and restrictions for the absentee voter process. It sets a time and procedures for obtaining a ballot; spells out rules for who can qualify to obtain a ballot; and sets forth the process for counting those ballots as well as stipulates “elections cannot be conducted in this state using an internet, Bluetooth, or wireless connection.”

Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment Of 2024

This measure is supported by the medical marijuana industry, which contends there are improvements that need to be made to the constitutional amendment passed in 2016. It allows for telemedicine assessments; extends registry cards from one year to three years; broadens the requirements for a "qualifying medical condition"; and allows qualifying patients or caregivers at least 21 years old to keep and to plant marijuana plants in limited quantities and sizes at their domicile. The main reason for the last provision, according to supporters, is to help provide medical marijuana to those who must travel a great distance to a retail store.

Arkansas Educational Rights Amendment Of 2024

The proposed amendment would require private schools that receive local and state funds to comply with state academic and accreditation standards, including student and school assessments. Failure to do so would result in a loss of state funds. The amendment also says the state will provide universal access to early childhood education from age 3 until a student qualifies for kindergarten; universal access to afterschool and summer programs; services for students with disabilities; and assistance to children within 200% of the federal poverty line to deal with circumstances that contribute to poor learning outcomes.

ARKANSAS GOVERNMENT DISCLOSURE AMENDMENT (AND ACT) OF 2024

This proposal is a double-feature. Sprouted from the controversy of last year’s special session to restrict the state’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), the bipartisan group supporting this amendment change want to enshrine FOIA into the constitution. They are also offering a complimentary initiated act with details normally enacted by legislators. The amendment defines "government transparency," and the act goes further in prescribing penalties for bad actors who knowingly violate the FOIA. It also creates a state commission for records requests.

Arkansas Historic Or Special Interest Vehicle Act Of 2024

Last, but not least, a proposal has qualified to collect signatures to amend the law at which certain vehicles can be registered as historic or special interest. Current law puts that historic registration for vehicles that are 45 years or older, but this initiated act would lower the minimum age requirement of the vehicle to 25 years.

To summarize, these potential changes to the Constitution and state law are citizen-led initiatives. Arkansas is one of only 15 states with this type of referendum process where a group of citizens can propose laws. The Secretary of State will make a determination on the validity of the signatures in late July, so it won’t be until this Summer before the final issues are determined.